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Brief On Violence Against Sexual And Gender Minority Women

Violence against sexual and gender minority women (lesbians, bisexual, and transgender women or LBT) is driven by an intersection of patriarchal social norms and systemic stigma. These women face a "double burden": discrimination as women in male-dominated societies and targeted violence due to their non-normative identities.

Violence Against Adolescent Girls: Falling Through The Cracks?

Adolescent girls exist at a critical intersection, or "nexus," where they are simultaneously vulnerable to violence against children (VAC) and violence against women and girls (VAWG). Despite this, they often "fall through the cracks" because research and policies frequently overlook their specific needs, either treating them as children without a gendered lens or as women without an age-sensitive perspective.

What Works To Prevent Violence Against Women And Girls In Conflict And Humanitarian Crisis: Synthesis Brief

In conflict and humanitarian crises, the breakdown of law and social structures intensifies systemic gender inequality, making intimate partner violence (IPV) the most prevalent threat—often surpassing war-related sexual violence. Displacement and extreme poverty drive cycles of forced child marriage and bride-price-related abductions as families struggle to survive. Breaking this cycle requires "gender-transformative" interventions that combine economic aid with community-led programs to challenge the patriarchal norms that entrench violence long after a conflict ends.

Evidence Brief What Works To Prevent And Respond To Violence Against Women And Girls In Conflict And Humanitarian Settings?

The Global Women’s Institute (GWI) conducts research and advocacy to protect women and girls from systemic violence, particularly in conflict zones like South Sudan and among U.S. immigrant populations. Their findings highlight that while war-related crimes are devastating, intimate partner violence and forced marriage are often the most pervasive threats, driven by a collapse of legal protections and economic desperation. GWI promotes "gender-transformative" solutions—such as school-based prevention and legislative reforms like the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA)—to challenge the root inequalities and social norms that sustain abuse globally.

Evidence Brief School-based Interventions To Prevent Violence Against Women & Girls

The Global Women’s Institute (GWI) addresses violence against women and girls (VAWG) through a strategic blend of research, education, and advocacy, particularly in conflict zones like South Sudan and among marginalized immigrant populations in the U.S. By documenting systemic drivers such as the bride price economy and the "help-seeking gap," GWI provides the evidence needed to push for legislative reforms like the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA). Their work focuses on "gender-transformative" solutions—such as school-based interventions and community-led models—that challenge deeply ingrained social norms to create lasting safety and equality for women and girls worldwide.

GWI 5 Year Report

Based on the reports and research summaries provided, the Global Women's Institute (GWI) at George Washington University has documented extensive data regarding the prevalence, drivers, and barriers to reporting violence against women and girls (VAWG). Below are the specific statistics and findings regarding racial groups, immigrant populations, and global survivors of violence.

Policy Brief Protecting Women From Violence At Home And Abroad: The Role Of The U.s. And Comprehensive Immigration Reform

The Global Women's Institute (GWI) policy brief emphasizes that comprehensive immigration reform is essential for protecting women, as the current system often leaves them trapped in cycles of abuse. Immigrant women are uniquely vulnerable due to language barriers, isolation, and the threat of deportation used as a tool of control by abusers.

Congress Woman Pramila Jayapal Champion For Justice

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is a lifelong advocate for immigrant rights and gender equality, notably founding OneAmerica to combat hate crimes after 9/11. A close partner of the Global Women’s Institute (GWI), she has participated in civil disobedience to protest inhumane immigration policies and family separation. As the first South Asian woman to represent Washington in Congress, she champions systemic reforms that protect women and ensure equal rights for marginalized communities.

“If You Are Born a Girl in This Crisis, You Are Born a Problem”: Patterns and Drivers of Violence Against Women and Girls in ConflictAffected South Sudan

In South Sudan, women and girls are trapped in a cycle of violence fueled by the intersection of armed conflict, a collapsing economy, and patriarchal customs. While conflict-related sexual violence is used as a weapon of war, intimate partner violence and forced child marriage are the most pervasive threats, often normalized as traditional "discipline" or financial necessity. The bride price system—where girls are exchanged for cattle—has turned women into economic assets, driving abductions and early marriages as families struggle to survive. This systemic inequality, combined with a total breakdown of the rule of law, leaves survivors with almost no path to safety or justice.

Nowhere To Go: Disclosure And Helpseeking Behaviors For Survivors Of Violence Against Women And Girls In South Sudan

In South Sudan, women and girls face some of the world’s highest rates of abuse, with up to 65% experiencing physical or sexual violence. While conflict-related rape is a major threat, intimate partner violence is actually the most common form of abuse, driven by "bride price" customs that treat women as economic assets. Despite this, survivors rarely seek help due to intense social stigma, the breakdown of the rule of law, and a lack of safe services, leaving them with almost no path to justice or recovery.