16 tips for 16 days of Activism against Gender based violence (GBV) |01 December 2020
United Nations and its member countries each year from November 25 to December 10 commemorate 16 Days of Activism against GBV. The campaign calls for the elimination of violence against women and children. This year’s theme is ‘Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!’ The Gender Secretariat under the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family will share a tip per day on GBV for this period of activism.
What is Emotional violence?
Emotional violence is one form of violence which affects the mental health directly. It can be as painful as physical violence but scars are not noticeable on the outside. Emotional abuse is often used as a means to obtain power by controlling and manipulating the emotions of others. It can take the form of constant criticisms, embarrassment, shaming, blaming, manipulation, bullying, rejection, verbal abuse, isolation etc. It is important to be able to analyse the relationships we are in to discern whether our relationships are abusive or not. Think about your interactions with your partner, your parents, your boss, does it make you feel afraid to talk to them, are you always required to put aside your needs and fulfil theirs? Do they make unreasonable demand? Refusing your feelings and defining how you should feel?
Recognise! Respond! Report!