Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) refers to any prejudicial act perpetrated against one’s will, based on socially prescribed differences between men and women.
Nowadays, many people have fortunately stood up against SGBV and the chorus of the song is Fight against Gender Based Violence or Violence Against Women . However, the message given by community groups often focuses on breaking the silence and standing in solidarity with survivors because taboos is still existing in many African countries.
After breaking the silence, should we be proud of results? Not at all! I am right with anybody in the world that »Prevention is better than cure », We dream a world without Violence Against women . Let’s Inspire ourselves and get strength from the consequences of SGBV:
Survivors suffer:
- Psychologically and emotionally : depression, fear, anxiety, shame, mental illness, self-hatred, suicidal thoughts, self-blame.
- Physically: injury, illness, sleep loss, shock, Infections/AIDS, pregnancy loss,unintended pregnancy.
- Social consequences: stigmatization, isolation, divorce, school breakup, work abandonment, recrudescence of bastards.
In Burundi as elsewhere, we observe a positive change because we get used to denounce the perpetrated violence. Little by little, we win the battle but not the war.
Therefore, let’s show the vision now, which is a world without sexual and gender-based violence(societies characterised by mutual respect). Let us sensitize the communities to envy this targeted world as well, teach each one’s involvement, ensure men are more involved in this fight than before. This is stronger than advocating for the punishment towards violence perpetrators.