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In Latin America and the Caribbean, depending on the country, between 17% and 53% of women indicate having been victims of physical or sexual violence by their partner at some point in their lives.
Not only are the scale and ubiquity of the problem alarming, we know that the consequences of sexual and gender-based violence are devastating.
In the first place, due to the impact on physical and mental health, and even the lives of women and their children, but also at the development level of the countries, due to direct costs and loss of productivity, in the present and in the future .
Just to get an idea of the order of magnitude, the economic cost of violence has been estimated at 3.7% of GDP in Peru and 4.2% in Colombia.
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This was the tragic pre-covid-19 scenario.
Preventive measures of social distancing and restriction of mobility, coupled with the anxiety of loss of income and the increase in housework have increased conflicts in families.
Evidence from recent months in the region suggests an increase in domestic violence, to the point that many have called it the "silent pandemic."
Violence against women is a complex problem, which is why facing it requires a forceful, sustained, coordinated and innovative response.
Forceful, because a problem that affects one in three women and generates a cost of more than 3% of GDP must be prioritized on the public agenda.
If we know the magnitude of the problem and its consequences, it is imperative to assume the moral and political commitment to offer solutions and invest enough resources for their effective implementation.
Sustained, because gender-based violence has its roots in unequal power relations between men and women.
We will not be able to change deep-rooted social norms regarding gender inequality and the acceptability of violence with a single communication campaign or an awareness session, wonderful as they are.
Modifying traditional gender roles is a process that takes time, but it is possible if we assume it as a long-term effort.
Coordinated, because the prevention and response to violence against women is a task that involves the action of multiple sectors and actors, which is why it is necessary to intervene from different areas and join forces to maximize results.
Only when we receive consistent messages and there is coordinated action from schools, health centers, transportation, police, justice, the media and in the workplace, will we begin to see changes.
Innovative, because although sexual and gender-based violence is an old problem, to solve it we have to use new ways of addressing it, making use of the opportunity represented by the growing role that information and communication technologies (ICTs) have in our society. daily life and the understanding we have today of how decisions can be influenced through behavioral economics.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, depending on the country, between 17% and 53% of women indicate having been victims of physical or sexual violence by their partner at some point in their lives
In the Inter-American Development Bank Group, we are working from all fronts to support the countries of the region to implement solutions that meet these four characteristics.
Given the evidence of increased violence in the context of covid-19, the issue has acquired an even higher profile: through the exchange of good practices in regional dialogue with the authorities, through the integration of specific interventions in operations education, health, social protection, urban development, security or transportation, in risk measurement tools and through technical assistance at the regional level incorporating the use of technology in violence prevention programs and care for women survivors, such as strategy to maintain continuity, expanding the coverage and quality of services.
In Peru, we are working together with the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the organization Innovations for the Fight against Poverty (IPC) in the development of a promising digital intervention to promote healthy masculinity backed by behavioral science.
The implementation and impact evaluation will allow to know if it is an effective model that can be replicated in other countries.
Another example of innovation is the support offered to Honduras for the development of the Conecta digital platform, which allows women who suffer violence to connect online with counseling services, psychosocial care and legal assistance, overcoming the mobility restrictions imposed by covid- 19, hurricanes and any other barrier that limits your ability to receive face-to-face services.
Sexual and gender-based violence is everyone's business.
With strong, sustained, coordinated and innovative actions we can break the cycle of violence and achieve safer and more prosperous societies.
Claudia Piras
is a lead specialist in the IDB's Gender and Diversity Division.
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