Explore

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.

Researching Violence Against Women And Girls In South Sudan: Ethical And Safety Considerations And Strategies

In South Sudan, conducting research on violence against women and girls (VAWG) presents extreme ethical and safety challenges that require a departure from standard research practices. Because the risks of physical or psychological harm are so high in a volatile conflict zone, the 2016 study led by the Global Women’s Institute (GWI) utilized a specialized risk-benefit framework to ensure that "putting women’s safety first" was not just a goal, but a functional methodology.

No Safe Place: A Lifetime Of Violence For Conflict-affected Women And Girls In South Sudan

n South Sudan, women and girls face some of the world’s highest rates of violence, with up to 65% experiencing physical or sexual abuse. While conflict-related rape by armed actors is a major threat, the study found that intimate partner violence is even more prevalent, driven by a "bride price" culture that views girls as economic assets. This systemic inequality, combined with a breakdown in the rule of law, creates a cycle where violence is normalized both in the community and at home, leaving survivors with almost no access to justice or support.

No safe place: Prevalence and correlates of violence against conflict-affected women and girls in South Sudan

This research article, published in PLOS ONE (2020), provides a rigorous quantitative analysis of the prevalence and drivers of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in South Sudan. The study is part of the "What Works to Prevent Violence" initiative and focuses on three specific conflict-affected sites: Juba City, Rumbek, and the Juba Protection of Civilian (PoC) sites.

No Safe Place: A Lifetime Of Violence For Conflict-affected Women And Girls In South Sudan

This summary report from 2017, "No Safe Place," provides the results of a landmark study on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in South Sudan. Conducted by the Global Women’s Institute (GWI), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and CARE International UK, it represents the first large-scale, rigorous data collection on this issue in the country's conflict zones.