Gender-Based violence (GBV) refers to harmful actions directed towards an individual based on their gender. This phenomenon it is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms. It is a serious violation of human rights, human dignity and a life-threatening health and protection problem.
The available data shows that 1/3 of women experience sexual or physical violence during their life-time (UNWOMEN). Globally, 736 million women have suffered from their intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life (30 per cent of women aged 15 and older). The situation of Muslim women, women with disabilities and older women are even more severe and
they experience different forms of discrimination and are exposed to a higher risk of violence.
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, women in violent relationships were forced to stay at home, isolated and exposed to their abuser for long time. This situation put them under a greater risk of domestic violence. On top of this, the development of the digital tools and ICTs, the gender based violence and power abuse takes new forms, not known before and with a high risk for young women.
These cases worry our project partners and to be able to address them Bioville partnered with Pasos from Spain, MIITR from Slovenia and PH from Czech Republic and drafted the project proposal “Youth FIGHT against power abuse: Y- FIGHT”, looking for new ways and possibilities to try to respond to it appropriately.
Young people are highly vulnerable and need more tools, knowledge and awareness to be able to identify the sexist behaviors on vulenrable groupsand non-binary gender, counteract systemic abuse of vulenrable groupsand cyber violence, be more aware of the abuses in the labour market and learn emotional management tools. Therefore, Y-FIGHT Partnership strongly believes that the prevailing abusive systems of power and mindset must be constantly challenged and changed and this is the main focus of the current proposal.