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Zero-Tolerance Policy Toward Gender-Based Abuse and Violence

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Gender Equality

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals ((ENUNSDG))

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Definition

Gender-based abuse and violence refers to any act perpetrated against a person’s will and is based on gender norms and unequal power relationships. This terminology encompasses threats of violence and coercion, which can be physical, emotional, psychological, or sexual in nature, and often take the form of a denial of resources or access to services. Eliminating gender-based abuse and violence has become a priority for sustainable development, as one of the most pervasive human rights violation in the world today is largely rooted in gender inequality with norms and attitudes that condone violence within the family, the community, and the State (Alan 2016; WHO 2013; Nnawulezi et al. 2018).

To this end, there is a call for zero tolerance and immediate action to end violence against women, where existing laws protecting women be vigorously enforced, with an emphasis on prevention, survivor services, the need for reliable data, and the importance of engaging men and boys to...

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Correspondence to Pamela McMullin-Messier .

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McMullin-Messier, P. (2020). Zero-Tolerance Policy Toward Gender-Based Abuse and Violence. In: Leal Filho, W., Azul, A., Brandli, L., Lange Salvia, A., Wall, T. (eds) Gender Equality. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70060-1_55-1

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