The Geopolitics of Gender-Based Violence in Africa

While a centuries-old phenomenon, gender-based violence (GBV) has become more widely discussed in recent years amid its rising global prevalence, with international organizations like the United Nations deeming it a ''shadow pandemic'' during the COVID-19 crisis in April 2020. On the geopolitical stage, however, GBV is still often viewed as exclusively a women's issue at worst – and a human rights issue at best. GBV is both women's and human rights issue, but such a narrow framing of GBV fails to give adequate attention and weight to its impact on a country's political stability, economic growth and overall peace and security. This is especially true in sub-Saharan Africa, where rising GBV inhibits cross-sector development, normalizes the abuse of women during times of war, and risks hampering countries' democratic consolidation. ...