Rollston, Rebekah, et al. "Comprehensive sexuality education to address gender-based violence." The Lancet 396.10245 (2020): 148-150.
The COVID-19 pandemic has unmasked underlying inequities. Measures such as lockdown and physical distancing have confined many people to isolated, unsafe places that may increase risk of gender-based violence (GBV). If lockdowns or restricted movement continue for just a year, it is estimated there will be 61 million more cases of GBV than what would have already been expected. In response to this increase, UN Women launched the Shadow Pandemic public awareness campaign in May, 2020. Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General has called for countries to include GBV prevention as a component of COVID-19 recovery plans.
GBV occurs among people of all genders, although GBV disproportionately affects women. In 1993, the UN adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, which it defines as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”. Violence against women can be perpetrated by male relatives other than spouses or partners, especially in societies that continue to provide men with legal or social power over women's autonomy and decisions. Many countries do not have adequate GBV legislation, and authorities can refuse to intervene in the case of family disputes. Some laws on violence against women are lenient towards cases related to so-called “honour” and “shame”, further exacerbating gender inequality.
GBV is a multifaceted issue, but the failure to implement comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) internationally puts all people at increased risk of violence. CSE includes developmentally and culturally relevant, science-based, medically accurate information on a wide range of topics, including human development, gender identity, sexual behaviours, communication skills, empathy, and mutual respect. Read more via The Lancet