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Editorial.

Article Excerpt
Gender-based violence (GBV) is violence that is directed at an individual based on her or his specific gender role in society. It can affect females or males; however gender-based violence affects women and girls disproportionately. GBV is deeply rooted in power imbalances and structural relationships of inequality between women and men and is therefore intended to establish or reinforce gender hierarchies and perpetuate gender inequalities.

Undoubtedly, substantial progress has been made in the last two decades to raise awareness of gender-based violence as a grave human rights violation. However, our world today is still not safer for millions of women and girls. During the 52nd Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon noted in his opening address that "at least one out of every three women is likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime". As a global phenomenon,...