Understanding Gender-Based Violence: A Survivor-Centered Overview of Prevalence, Forms, and Inequities

“Hello there! I’m here to provide you with a trauma-informed, survivor-centered overview of GBV in India and globally, drawing on recent statistics and research (2026).

I would like to remind you that suggestions on this post should not be taken as medical advice, legal advice, therapy, etc. or as a one-size-fits-all approach. Keep in mind that every individual’s journey of experiencing and navigating through stress or trauma is distinctive because you are one of a kind and no person is truly like you! Experiencing abuse in any form is NOT OKAY, but what you are experiencing as a result of abuse is valid. Please know that healing is not a formula and is not for anyone else to define for you. You do you, and you follow all that you need to follow, to help yourself. If you need additional resources or just someone to talk to, feel free to reach out to Imaara Foundation."

Written by: Sneha Rajeev

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a persistent global crisis that affects people across all regions and communities. While individuals of all genders can experience violence, existing data shows that women, girls, and marginalized groups face disproportionate harm due to structural inequalities and entrenched power imbalances.

GBV is not limited to physical acts. It includes emotional abuse, sexual coercion, economic control, and increasingly, technology-facilitated harm. These experiences often occur in spaces that are expected to be safe—homes, relationships, and communities.

A trauma-informed approach recognizes that behind every statistic is a lived experience. Many survivors navigate complex barriers to safety, support, and justice. Understanding GBV requires both data and empathy.

The Scale of Gender-Based Violence

India: National Overview

Data from India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) highlights the scale of reported violence:

• 445,256 cases of crimes against women were recorded in 2022

• 471,000 cases were recorded in 2023, reflecting a continued increase

• The most reported category is cruelty by husbands or relatives, accounting for over 31% of cases

• Other major categories include:

  • Rape: 31,516 cases

  • Assault with intent to outrage modesty: over 83,000 cases

• Kidnapping and abduction account for nearly 19% of cases

• Dowry deaths: approximately 6,500–7,000 annually

• Acid attacks: 120–150 cases annually

State-level data shows Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan reporting the highest numbers.

Additionally, cybercrimes against women are rising sharply, with 76,657 complaints in 2025, up from 48,335 in 2024 (NCRP, 2025).

National Health Data

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) reveals:

• 28% of women aged 15–49 report physical domestic violence

• 14% report emotional abuse

• 6% report spousal sexual violence

• Tamil Nadu reports particularly high prevalence, with 41% experiencing physical violence

These figures likely underestimate reality due to underreporting.

Global Context

Globally:

• 1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime

• Approximately 736 million women have experienced GBV

• Around 140 women and girls are killed daily by intimate partners or family members

These numbers underscore that GBV is not isolated—it is systemic.

Forms of Gender-Based Violence

GBV often takes multiple, overlapping forms:

• Domestic violence: Includes physical harm, emotional abuse, coercion, and economic control within intimate or family relationships

• Sexual violence: Encompasses rape, assault, and harassment

• Child abuse: Includes early marriage, sexual exploitation, and dowry-related harm

• Technology-facilitated violence: Cyberstalking, non-consensual image sharing, sextortion, and online harassment

• Kidnapping and trafficking: Often linked to forced marriage or exploitation

• Dowry-related violence: A persistent and deadly practice

• Acid attacks: A form of extreme violence with long-term physical and psychological impact

  
  

These forms are interconnected and often occur simultaneously.

Why Gender-Based Violence Is Underreported

The true scale of GBV is significantly higher than reported data suggests. Survivors may face:

• Fear of retaliation or further harm

• Social stigma and victim-blaming

• Economic dependence on perpetrators

• Pressure to keep violence “private”

• Limited awareness of rights and services

• Distrust in institutions

  
  

Structural barriers also play a role. In India, over 90% of GBV-related cases remain pending in courts (NCRB, 2023), delaying justice. Survivors may also encounter secondary victimization, including insensitive responses from legal or medical systems.

Additionally, some forms of violence—such as marital rape in India—are not legally recognized, further silencing survivors.

Intersectionality: Who Is Most Affected?

GBV does not affect everyone equally. Risk and impact are shaped by intersecting identities such as gender, caste, sexuality, disability, and socioeconomic status.

Women and Girls

Young women face the highest risk globally. Intimate partner violence remains the most common form, often occurring within domestic spaces.

LGBTQIA+ Individuals

LGBTQIA+ individuals experience significantly higher rates of violence:

• Up to five times higher victimization rates than non-LGBTIA+ individuals

• Transgender individuals face particularly high levels of targeted violence

Legal and social barriers often limit access to protection and justice.

Persons with Disabilities

People with disabilities are 4–10 times more likely to experience violence. Dependency and isolation are often exploited by perpetrators.

Dalit Women

Dalit women experience layered oppression based on caste, gender, and class:

• High rates of sexual violence

• Extremely low conviction rates

• Systemic barriers to justice

Violence is often used as a tool of social control.

Adivasi (Tribal) Women

Adivasi women face violence linked to displacement, conflict, and marginalization. Crimes against Scheduled Tribes have risen significantly in recent years.

Religious Minority Women

Women from minority communities may face targeted violence, including honour-based crimes and communal harassment, often underreported or misclassified.

Women in Conflict and Humanitarian Settings

In crisis contexts:

• Up to 70% of women experience GBV

• Displacement significantly increases vulnerability

Moving Toward Accountability and Support

Addressing GBV requires more than awareness. It calls for:

• Strengthening survivor-centred legal and healthcare systems

• Ensuring trauma-informed responses across institutions

• Expanding access to safe reporting mechanisms

• Addressing structural inequalities (caste, gender, economic status)

• Recognizing and responding to digital forms of violence

• Supporting community-based prevention and education

  
  

A survivor-centred approach prioritizes dignity, choice, and safety. It shifts the focus from questioning survivors to holding systems accountable.

Gender-based violence is not inevitable. It is preventable. However, meaningful change requires sustained commitment at individual, institutional, and societal levels.

Listening to survivors, validating their experiences, and addressing systemic barriers are essential steps. Data tells us the scale of the issue, but survivor voices remind us why action is urgent.

Want the references for this article?

• Break the Cycle. (2024). LGBTQ+ intimate partner violence statistics.

• Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2022). Violent victimization by sexual orientation and gender identity.

• Citizens for Justice and Peace. (2024–2025). Reports on caste-based violence.

• Human Rights Campaign. (2024). Hate crime and violence reports.

• National Crime Records Bureau. (2022). Crime in India Report 2022. Government of India.

• National Crime Records Bureau. (2023). Crime in India Report 2023. Government of India.

• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. (2025). Cybercrime statistics. Government of India.

• National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). (2019–2021). India fact sheet.

• Pandey, & Mishra. (2021). Violence against Dalit women: A study. ScienceDirect.

• UN Women. (2024). Facts and figures: Ending violence against women.

• UNODC & UN Women. (2023). Global study on femicide.

• World Bank. (2022). Gender data portal: Violence against women.

• World Health Organization. (2021). Global estimates of violence against women.

• Williams Institute, UCLA. (2025). LGBT victimization rates.