Living free from gender-based violence is a human right, everywhere

Gender-based violence, or GBV, is one of the most pervasive and most tolerated human rights violations in the world.

As we mark 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and Human Rights Day on December 10, the connection between these two themes reminds us that living free from GBV should not be a privilege for some, but a right for all.

At World Vision Canada, we see the impact of GBV every day: in schools where girls drop out because of GBV incidences or fear of violence and harassment; in refugee camps where limited privacy and overcrowding heighten GBV risks; in families struggling to cope with poverty; and in communities where leaders are working to break cycles of harm.

GBV: A denial of safety and equality

Every single act of GBV is a denial of fundamental rights to safety, dignity, and equality. These rights are protected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the binding treaty known as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Almost every single country in the world, including Canada, has committed to uphold human and gender rights.

Yet at least one in three women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. A woman or girl in Canada is murdered every 48 hours, primarily by men, and Indigenous women experience GBV rates more than three times higher than non-Indigenous women. In your family, someone you love – a sister, a daughter, a mother, a spouse – has or will experience violence based on their gender.

Global commitments remain unfulfilled

Why do global commitments remain unfulfilled leaving so many vulnerable people to live in fear of violence based on their gender?One common thread is systemic failure. Governments fall short of implementing the protections they have promised and put into law.

Another is beliefs based on long-lasting patriarchal norms. Communities and families address GBV in hushed tones, or not at all, denying justice to those who have been harmed. And entrenched socio-cultural norms and attitudes condone GBV, or even accept it as an unavoidable part of life.

This systemic failure to end GBV is universal, and so should our commitment to ending GBV. Without addressing GBV, we know the world will not achieve gender equality and all of the Sustainable Development Goals.

World Vision's response

Wherever we work around the world, World Vision is tackling GBV. We witness how GBV risks for women and girls rise in regions in conflict or crises, including in humanitarian emergencies and displacement. Those living with disabilities are even more vulnerable to GBV. And when children see GBV at home, we consider this violence against children which leaves a lasting impact on a child’s development and wellbeing.

Our evidence-driven GBV prevention and response work is led by local partners, including women’s rights organizations, who are critical drivers of change in their communities. Together, we don’t treat GBV as an isolated issue – we address the systems and social norms that sustain it, from unequal power dynamics to harmful traditional practices.

That can mean strengthening child and youth protection systems, engaging men, boys and faith leaders to challenge harmful norms, or promoting girls’ leadership and participation. In Bangladesh’s Youth Empowered project, the MenCare model equipped men to speak against GBV and child marriage. In Mozambique’s Every Girl Can project, community-led girls clubs provide safe spaces where adolescent girls and young women learn about their rights and how to hold systems accountable.

As GBV evolves, so will our response. Technology and social media use are becoming more pervasive, and we are paying closer attention to technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), such as online harassment and digital exploitation, which frequently coincides with offline GBV.

Human rights commitments must remain firm

No matter where GBV takes place in the world, whether in real life or online, the impacts of GBV can be devastating, violating the right to life, health, safety, freedom, and full participation in society. There can be no sustainable development when more than half the population lives without safety or justice.

Global governments, including our own in Canada, must ensure that human rights commitments stand firm. In a global environment where global gender equality funding has reduced at an alarming rate, the corresponding reduction in GBV prevention and response programs will have a human toll. A March 2025 UN Women global survey of women's rights organizations found that:

• 34% had suspended or shut down GBV programs
• More than 40% had scaled back or closed life-saving services
• More than 75% reported reduced access to essential services for GBV survivors
• Close to 60% perceived an increase in GBV impunity and normalization of violence

Supporting the right to live free from violence is not an act of charity, it is a part of the human rights promise Canada and most of the world’s countries have made.

As we get set to mark International Human Rights Day and conclude 16 Days of Activism, let’s remember that living free from gender-based violence is a universal right, and it is all of our responsibility to uphold it.

Learn more about our work in gender equality

• When policy labels shift, gender equality work carries on: Lessons from Sweden
• Leveraging technology to advance solutions to gender-based violence
• Empowered to empower: A journey of resilience and transformation