The situation with gender-based violence in Mongolia, its root causes, the measures taken by the government and “us” the people of Mongolia and their effectiveness need to be discussed once again. Because one in two Mongolian women experiences violence.
Violence
According to the findings of a joint study by the National Statistics Office and the UNFPA, one in every two women in Mongolia, or half a million, have suffered from violence at some point in their lives, perpetrated by someone close to them (relatives, acquaintances, or family members). A third of women, or about 290,000, reported having been sexually or physically abused by an intimate partner.
In addition, 40 percent of women have been subject to controlling behavior and emotional abuse at the hands of a family member, 17 percent have experienced non-partner violence, one in five women have suffered from economic abuse, and one in ten women have been subjected to sexual abuse before the age of fifteen. The perpetrators are usually their relatives.
Violence against women and girls occurs in various settings, including households, schools, workplaces, public spaces, and digital spaces. These incidents significantly impair the health, self-esteem, and overall well-being of the victims.
The number of fatalities linked to domestic violence rose by 20% in the first half of 2023, in comparison to the same period of the previous year. (Reported by the police)
Violence against women is violence against fundamental human rights and must be taken seriously as a national, social, economic, and development challenge.
Why?
According to a secondary analysis of the above-mentioned study on gender-based violence, excessive alcohol use was identified as the primary behavioral risk factor for the males, perpetrating the violence, while low level of education, unemployment, and poverty were identified as the primary social risk factors. Additionally, engaging in extramarital affairs and fighting with other males were defined as risk factors for abusing their intimate partner by men
Poverty as a risk factor increases stress and pressure and leads to domestic violence. Being a victim of violence is more prevalent among women who have two or more children, according to the analysis. However, this does not imply that affluent and well-off households are devoid of violence. Adverse social environments, including childhood abuse, witnessing abuse, and seeing their mother abused, constitute risk factors for experiencing violence in adulthood for women. Thus, women of any socioeconomic background are susceptible to suffering from abuse.
The root cause of violence?
The root causes of the violence perpetrated against half a million women are negative gender stereotypes, gender inequality and harmful social norms.
Mongolian women spend 2.6 times more time than men on unpaid domestic and caregiving work, but their participation in decision-making level is still inadequate.
Gender inequality places women in economic and social vulnerability as well as exposes them to the risk of violence.
In Mongolia, social media platforms are widely used by the majority of the population, and the amount of technology-facilitated violence is rising. Girls and women no longer feel safe in their homes, schools, workplaces, public places, and even online.
What now?
Of course, there are measures that must be taken at the policy level.
One: Developing and implementing “The National Action Plan for Eliminating GBV in Mongolia between 2024-2030” consisting of evidence-based strategies in order to intensify responses to violence against girls and women, accelerate the implementation of corresponding laws and regulations, prevent violence before it happens, and further strengthen the data and evidence base:
- Stakeholder engagement must be mapped in order to support cross-sectoral coordination and implementation,
- The National Action Plan must have a complete budget with detailed expenses planned for activities.
Two: Strengthen the efficacy of a survivor-centered, multi-sectoral approach to GBV prevention and response by increasing the involvement of critical health and education stakeholders. All stakeholders set an example and leadership by incorporating precise policies and protocols aimed at preventing and mitigating workplace GBV.
Three: Develop a uniform method for the collection, analysis and use of data on GBV, through regularly conducting national prevalence surveys on GBV at a national level. To enhance the capacity to conduct research, to create evidence tailored for the situation of Mongolia, and to bolster the capacity to interpret research results and data to use them in policies and programs.
Four: Reflecting GBV content in all levels of educational institutions. Including prevention and response measures to GBV to.comprehensive sexuality education in the secondary education curriculum.
Five: Developing a roadmap for accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 5. Targeting the root cause of GBV, achieving gender equality is inseparably related to ending GBV. This roadmap will implement strategies to end GBV on a wide range and ensure gender equality in all spheres of life. Additionally, the roadmap is to provide support for the meaningful contribution of government agencies, donor organizations, development partners, the UN in Mongolia, the private sector, civil society and the general public to constitute gender equality in Mongolia by 2030.
What else can we do collectively?
Protecting women and girls and ending gender-based violence is not only the government’s job. This is a work that concerns all: international organizations, donors, the private sector, civil society organizations, the public, households, and individuals.
Especially, the media has an important role in raising awareness among the public about the importance of ensuring gender equality, and the harmful consequences of gender-based violence. Furthermore, it can provide a platform for individuals who are mainly deprived of the means to communicate their concerns and expose the gender biases concealed beneath gender-based violence and inequality.
Moreover, artistic and cultural institutions can also play a concrete role. For example, more film content depicting gender equality, equil representation, and equal participation in decision-making will prompt audiences to support gender equality.
Our country has introduced comprehensive sexuality education in its educational curriculum. The curriculum needs to strongly incorporate , prevention of gender-based violence andgender equality topics .
In any case, respecting women, preventing violence should be the priority for all people everywhere.
The work of eliminating violence starts with me, you – the reader, our families, friends and community.