The Importance of Believing Survivors of GBV

Sometimes, gender-based violence doesn’t start with violence. It might start with a loving relationship, and then spiral into physical abuse, emotional manipulation, or financial coercion. Domestic violence can take many forms, and these are not always apparent right away. Other times, gender-based violence is explicit, taking on brutal forms such as rape, femicide, or human trafficking. Whether immediately apparent or not, victims of gender-based violence often keep quiet about abuse, silenced from the stigma around the issue. Many fear victim blaming, when someone implies the victim is at fault and could have prevented the violence from happening in the first place. Furthermore, victims may also encounter double abuse, where speaking out about their experience is received with disbelief or criticism, rather than support. While there may not always be explicitly bad intentions, both victim blaming and double abuse exacerbate existing stigma around gender-based violence, creating a society where survivors, especially women, do not feel comfortable speaking about the violence they encountered. 

According to UN Women, one in three women experience violence in their lifetime. And yet, data from the World Bank suggests one in two women who experience physical or sexual violence, (not even considering other forms of violence), never reach out for help. These troubling statistics underline the need to offer support to victims. This begins with believing the stories of survivors. 

Talking about abusive experiences is not easy, especially given the amount of stigma surrounding gender-based violence. However, if you know someone in your life is experiencing abuse, tell them they are not alone, listen carefully if they share their story, and keep their information confidential if asked. Seeking help can be very scary, but in assuring victims they are not alone, and their pursuit of justice is not only legitimate, but deserved, we can begin to deconstruct the stigma around gender-based violence, and replace it with empathy and understanding.