What is abuse?
Abuse is any harmful act directed at an individual based on their biological sex or gender identity. Abuse is commonly referred to as gender-based violence (GBV) and is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms. Both males and females can be victims of abuse but the majority of victims are women and girls.
Types of Abuse
Domestic Violence/Abuse
This can be physical, emotional, psychological, financial, or sexual, which takes place within close relationship, usually by partners, ex-partners or family members. Domestic violence/abuse can involve a wide range of abusive and controlling behavior, including threats, harassment, financial control and emotional abuse.
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
Refers to behavior by an intimate partner or ex-partner that causes physical, sexual or psychological harm, including physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse and controlling behaviors.
Psychological Abuse
Psychological or emotional violence represents all the invisible forms of abuse that a person can experience in public or private life. It also refers to Coercive Control which sums up a range of controlling behaviors that an abuser exerts on a victim/survivor.
Technology-Facilitated Abuse
Refers to any form of controlling behavior from an abuser to a victim/survivor using technology. Technology ranges from social media to spyware and home-based technology.
Economic Abuse
Economic violence includes taking away the earnings of the victim, not allowing them to have a separate income, refusing them to work or earn, or making the victim unfit for work through targeted physical abuse.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse involves: hitting, slapping, punching, throwing/smashing objects, shoving, kicking, burning, choking, using weapons and other objects to cause injury. It can be brutal or subtle, leaving the survivor isolated and exhausted.
Sexual Violence
Sexual violence includes rape, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, forced prostitution, FGM, sexual harassment, bullying, and abuse within partnerships — any act without consent or using coercion, in any setting.