Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) refers to harmful acts involving sexual violence, gender inequality, coercion, threats or the restriction of a person’s freedom. It can take many forms, including physical abuse, sexual harassment, emotional manipulation, economic control and technology-facilitated abuse. It can occur at home, in relationships, workplaces, educational institutions, public spaces and online.
Understanding sexual and gender-based violence is an important step towards recognising harmful behaviours, challenging misconceptions and helping survivors access appropriate support. In Sri Lanka, stigma, fear of judgement and limited awareness of available services can make seeking help difficult. This article explores the different forms of SGBV, examples of how it can occur, its potential effects on survivors and where people in Sri Lanka can find reliable information and support.
What is gender-based violence?
Gender-based violence (GBV) refers to harmful acts directed at someone because of their gender or acts that disproportionately affect people due to gender inequality. It includes physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse, as well as threats, harassment and controlling behaviours.
According to UN Women, violence against women is both a human rights violation and a form of discrimination rooted in unequal power relationships. Although women and girls are disproportionately affected by many forms of GBV, men, boys and people of diverse gender identities can also experience it. In Sri Lanka, the 2019 Women’s Wellbeing Survey, conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics with support from UNFPA, highlights the importance of recognising intimate partner violence and improving access to support.
What is sexual violence?
Sexual violence involves sexual acts or behaviours carried out without freely given consent, including rape, attempted rape, unwanted sexual contact and sexual coercion. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it can involve force, threats or pressure, regardless of the relationship between those involved.
Consent is necessary every time, and being married or having previously consented does not imply ongoing consent. In Sri Lanka, the 2019 Women’s Wellbeing Survey found that nearly half of women who experienced sexual violence by a partner had not sought formal help, highlighting the need for accessible, non-judgmental support for survivors.
What are the different forms of gender-based violence?
Gender-based violence can take different forms, and several may occur together within the same relationship or situation.
Physical Violence
Physical violence involves using force to cause or threaten harm. Examples include hitting, slapping, kicking, choking or physically restraining someone. It can occur even when injuries are not visible.
Sexual Violence and Harassment
This includes unwanted sexual contact, rape, sexual coercion and harassment. Examples include repeated unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate sexual comments and pressuring someone into sexual activity by threatening their employment or education.
Psychological and Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse involves behaviours that create fear, humiliation or distress. These may include persistent insults, threats, intimidation, manipulation or isolating someone from friends and family. Over time, such behaviour can undermine a person’s confidence and sense of safety.
Economic Abuse and Coercive Control
Economic abuse occurs when someone restricts another person’s access to money, employment, education or essential resources to control their choices. Coercive control describes a pattern of behaviour intended to dominate or restrict someone’s freedom. Examples include taking a partner’s earnings, preventing them from working or monitoring their movements.
Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence
Digital platforms can be used to harass, threaten or control others. Examples include cyberstalking, sharing intimate images without consent, threatening to expose private information, impersonation and tracking someone’s location without permission.
What are some examples of sexual and gender-based violence?
Sexual and gender-based violence is not always immediately recognisable. For example:
- A partner demands access to someone’s phone and dictates who they can meet.
- A person pressures their partner into sexual activity after they have refused.
- A lecturer or employer makes unwanted sexual advances linked to academic or professional opportunities.
- Someone repeatedly follows another person or makes unwanted sexual remarks in public.
- A partner takes someone’s salary and refuses to let them access money for everyday needs.
- Someone threatens to publish private photographs after a relationship ends.
These behaviours can violate personal boundaries and restrict a person’s freedom. A survivor does not need to identify a particular label for their experience before seeking information or support.
Sexual and gender-based violence in Sri Lanka
Sexual and gender-based violence remains an important human rights and public health concern in Sri Lanka. National research highlights both the prevalence of violence and the barriers that can prevent people from seeking help.
Sri Lanka’s Department of Census and Statistics, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), conducted the Women’s Wellbeing Survey in 2019. The survey found that 20.4% of ever-partnered women aged 15 and above had experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner during their lifetime.
The findings also highlighted barriers to seeking formal assistance, including shame, fear of being blamed and beliefs that violence should be tolerated or was not serious enough to report.
These figures describe experiences measured in 2019, not current prevalence. Nevertheless, they demonstrate why accessible information, appropriate support services and efforts to challenge stigma remain important.
Who can experience gender-based violence?
Anyone can experience gender-based violence, regardless of age, income, education or background. However, women and girls experience a disproportionate burden of many forms of violence. Men and boys can also experience sexual violence, domestic abuse and harassment. People with disabilities and those facing other forms of discrimination may encounter additional barriers when seeking assistance.
Violence can be committed by a partner, family member, colleague, acquaintance or stranger. Survivors may respond differently, some speak about their experiences quickly, while others need time before seeking help. Their responses do not determine whether their experiences are valid.
How can gender-based violence affect survivors?
The effects vary between individuals and may change over time. Not every survivor experiences the same consequences.
- Physical health: Injuries, pain, sleep difficulties and sexual or reproductive health concerns may occur.
- Emotional well-being: Some people experience anxiety, sadness, fear, shame or difficulty trusting others.
- Social relationships: Abuse may contribute to isolation, relationship difficulties or fear of judgement.
- Education and employment: Violence can interrupt studies, affect work performance or limit career opportunities.
- Financial independence: Economic abuse and the costs associated with seeking help can make it harder to access housing, healthcare or other essentials.
Recovery is different for everyone. Medical care, counselling, legal information and practical assistance may help survivors explore their options at their own pace.
Where can someone find support in Sri Lanka?
People affected by violence can explore medical, psychosocial, legal and community-based support according to their circumstances and preferences.
- Medical care: Hospitals and qualified healthcare professionals can assess injuries and discuss relevant health concerns.
- Psychosocial support: Qualified counsellors and mental health professionals can help people work through emotional difficulties.
- Legal assistance: Qualified legal professionals and support organisations can explain relevant rights and possible options.
- Helplines: Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Women and Child Affairs lists 1938 as the Women’s Helpline and 1929 as the Children’s Helpline. Check the official ministry website for current service information: https://www.childwomenmin.gov.lk/.
How Safe Her Space can help
SafeHerSpace is a multilingual resource platform created to make reliable information and support services more accessible to people affected by sexual and gender-based violence in Sri Lanka. We bring together information about support organisations, mental health and recovery, and available resources in one place, helping people explore their options at their own pace.
Through SafeHerSpace, we hope to make finding support a little less overwhelming. Whether you are looking for help for yourself, supporting someone you care about, or simply trying to understand your options, our platform is here to help you find relevant information in Sinhala, Tamil and English.
Explore SafeHerSpace to discover support services, learn about recovery and find information that can help you take your next step.