Global Action to End Gender-Based Violence Act: A Framework for Prevention, Protection, and Justice

Global Action to End Gender-Based Violence Act: A Framework for Prevention, Protection, and Justice

Proposed by Elena Varga, Social Democratic Policy Advisor to the World Parliament

Preamble

Recognizing that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a pervasive human rights violation, a significant barrier to social, economic, and political equality, and a grave impediment to sustainable development and peace worldwide;

Affirming that the elimination of GBV is fundamental to upholding the dignity and rights of all individuals, particularly women, girls, and marginalized communities who are disproportionately affected;

Acknowledging that GBV undermines the very fabric of democratic societies and the well-being of working people globally, impacting their health, safety, economic stability, and participation in public life;

Committed to a world where all individuals can live free from violence and discrimination, this Act establishes a comprehensive, multi-sectoral framework for the global eradication of GBV.

Article I: Definitions

Section 1.1. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) shall mean any harmful act perpetrated against a person's will and based on socially ascribed gender differences. It includes acts that inflict physical, sexual, psychological, or economic harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion, and other deprivations of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. This encompasses, but is not limited to, domestic violence, sexual violence, trafficking, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, and online harassment.

Article II: Objectives

This Act aims to:

1. Prevent the occurrence of GBV through education, norm transformation, and empowerment initiatives.
2. Protect survivors of GBV by ensuring access to comprehensive support services and safe environments.
3. Prosecute perpetrators of GBV effectively and ensure justice for survivors.
4. Promote international cooperation and accountability in addressing GBV.
5. Integrate GBV prevention and response into all relevant policy areas, including health, education, labor, and economic development.

Article III: Pillars of Global Action

Section 3.1. Prevention and Education

1. Mandatory Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Member states shall integrate age-appropriate, rights-based comprehensive sexuality education into national curricula, addressing consent, healthy relationships, gender equality, and the prevention of GBV from early childhood through adolescence.
2. Challenging Harmful Norms: Member states shall develop and implement public awareness campaigns and community-based programs to challenge patriarchal norms, gender stereotypes, and discriminatory attitudes that perpetuate GBV, promoting positive masculinities and gender equality.
3. Economic Empowerment of Women: Member states shall invest in policies and programs that promote women's economic independence, including equal pay, access to decent work, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy, recognizing economic dependence as a significant risk factor for GBV.

Section 3.2. Protection and Support for Survivors

1. Universal Access to Services: Member states shall ensure universal, accessible, and survivor-centered services, including:
* Safe Shelters and Housing: Sufficient, adequately funded, and culturally sensitive shelters and safe housing options.
* Healthcare: Comprehensive medical and psychosocial support, including emergency care, mental health services, and sexual and reproductive health services, free of charge to survivors.
* Legal Aid: Free and confidential legal assistance, including representation in court and support in navigating justice systems.
* Hotlines and Crisis Centers: 24/7 confidential hotlines and crisis centers with trained professionals.
2. No-Reparation Policies: Member states shall implement policies that ensure survivors are not penalized or deported for reporting GBV, regardless of their immigration status.
3. Child Protection: Specific measures shall be implemented to protect child survivors of GBV, ensuring their best interests are paramount in all interventions.

Section 3.3. Prosecution and Justice

1. Strengthening Legal Frameworks: Member states shall review and reform national laws to criminalize all forms of GBV, ensure adequate penalties, and remove any legal provisions that discriminate against survivors or impede justice.
2. Training and Capacity Building: Member states shall provide mandatory, specialized, and ongoing training for law enforcement, judicial officials, prosecutors, and healthcare providers on GBV-sensitive responses, trauma-informed care, and survivor rights.
3. Dedicated Courts and Procedures: Member states shall establish or designate specialized courts or judicial procedures for GBV cases to ensure timely, fair, and sensitive adjudication, minimizing re-victimization.
4. Accountability for State Actors: Mechanisms shall be established to ensure accountability for state actors who fail to prevent GBV, protect survivors, or prosecute perpetrators.

Section 3.4. Data Collection and Research

1. Standardized Data Collection: The World Parliament, in collaboration with relevant international bodies, shall develop standardized methodologies for collecting disaggregated data on all forms of GBV, ensuring ethical and survivor-centered approaches.
2. Research and Innovation: Member states shall invest in research to understand the root causes, prevalence, and impact of GBV, and to identify effective prevention and intervention strategies, including those addressing intersectional forms of discrimination.

Article IV: Funding and Resources

1. Global Solidarity Fund for GBV: A dedicated Global Solidarity Fund for GBV shall be established, financed through contributions from member states, private sector partnerships, and innovative financing mechanisms. This fund will support national and regional initiatives aligned with this Act, with a focus on low-income countries and conflict-affected regions.
2. National Budget Allocation: Member states shall allocate a minimum percentage of their national budgets to GBV prevention, response, and justice services, ensuring sustained and predictable funding.

Article V: International Cooperation and Accountability

1. World Parliament Oversight Committee: A standing World Parliament Oversight Committee on Gender Equality and GBV shall be established to monitor the implementation of this Act, review national progress reports, and recommend further actions.
2. Peer Review Mechanism: A regular peer review mechanism among member states shall be established to share best practices, identify challenges, and foster mutual learning and accountability in addressing GBV.
3. Collaboration with Civil Society: Member states shall actively engage and support civil society organizations, particularly women's rights organizations, in the design, implementation, and monitoring of GBV programs and policies.

Article VI: Implementation and Review

1. National Action Plans: Within two (2) years of the adoption of this Act, each member state shall develop and submit a comprehensive National Action Plan for the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence, outlining specific targets, timelines, and resource allocations.
2. Regular Reporting: Member states shall submit biennial reports to the World Parliament Oversight Committee on their progress in implementing this Act.
3. Review and Amendment: This Act shall be subject to review and potential amendment every five (5) years to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness in addressing evolving forms and challenges of GBV.

This Act shall come into force immediately upon its adoption by the World Parliament.