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Sexual and Gender Violence

Sexual and gender violence affects individuals, communities and societies alike. Present in all cultures and walks of life, it can ruin lives, destroy families, break trust and encumber economies. And yet, while the effects can be devastating, stories of resilience and empowerment exist.

Sexual violence broadly refers to any unwanted sexual acts, comments, or advances. It can include, but is not limited, to sexual harassment, sexual abuse, rape within a relationship or marriage, rape by a stranger or acquaintance, or childhood sexual abuse and may include coercion, manipulation, or force. Sexual violence can and does affect individuals of all ages, races, cultures, religions, and socio-economic statuses. It does not discriminate. It can and does affect people of varied genders, gender identities, and sexual orientations. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans individuals experience sexual violence at higher rates than cisgender heterosexual individuals.

Gendered violence broadly refers to any violence perpetrated on individuals or groups associated to normative understandings of one’s gender and may inflict physical, sexual, or mental harm. This can include sexual violence, but can also include domestic or interpersonal violence, forced marriage, child marriage, harmful traditional practices, sex-selective abortion, harassment, exploitation, trafficking, and discrimination among others.

The effects of both sexual and gendered violence can be profound. This type of violence may negatively affect an individual’s overall health and development and impact their risks for and resilience against psychological disorders and alcohol and drug use. Additional consequences of sexual and gendered violence may include injury, death, unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), depression, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide attempts, fear, stigmatization, and isolation.

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