Combating Gender-Based Violence
Gender-based violence (GBV) is any harmful threat or act directed at an individual or group based on their actual or perceived:
- Sex
- Gender identity
- Gender expression
- Sexual orientation
- Difference from social norms related to masculinity or femininity
GBV can include physical, sexual, psychological, economic, and emotional abuse. A perpetrator of GBV can be someone known to the victim, including family members, intimate partners, authority figures, or others. It could also be a person the victim does not know.
Specific forms of GBV may include but are not limited to:
- Domestic Violence: A pattern of behavior in a relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over a partner, parent, or child. Domestic violence can involve physical, sexual, emotional, financial, immigration-related, or psychological abuse or threats. Learn about immigration relief available to abused spouses, children, and parents.
- Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): All procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Learn more about FGM/Cand read the FGM/C brochure
- Forced Marriage: A marriage in which one or both parties do not or cannot consent, and in which one or more elements of force, fraud, or coercion is present. Find more information about forced marriage.
- Human Trafficking: The use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Read about the Blue Campaign’s efforts to end human trafficking.
- Sexual Violence: Includes sexual harassment, sexual abuse, assault, incest, rape, or other non-consensual sexual acts. Learn about immigration relief for victims of sexual assault and other crimes.
- Online Harassment and Abuse: Can include online threats and intimidation as well as the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, cyberstalking, and sextortion. Read theFinal Report and Blueprint of the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuseand Online Health and Safety for Children and Youth: Best Practices for Families and Guidance for Industry, and visit the Know2Protect campaign to stop online child exploitation.
GBV can occur anywhere and at any time, both inside and outside the United States. People may be more vulnerable to GBV during and after emergency situations, such as natural or human-made disasters, conflict situations, or other events that cause displacement or disruption. Acts of GBV such as arbitrary killings, torture, sexual violence, and forced marriage may also be used as a tactic of war or during periods of societal instability.
People of any age, socioeconomic status, culture, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic can experience or perpetrate GBV. Women of color, immigrant women (including those without lawful status), low-income women, minors, individuals with disabilities, and individuals whose sexual identity, orientation, or practices differ from the majority may be more vulnerable to GBV and may face barriers to getting help.
The Victim-Centered Approach
A victim-centered approach places equal value on identifying and providing safety to victims and on investigating and prosecuting crimes. DHS incorporates a victim-centered approach into its policies, programs, and activities. Learn more about DHS’s commitment to a victim-centered approach to combating human trafficking and others forms of GBV.
In November 2023, DHS issued Directive No. 002-03: Preventing and Addressing Gender-Based Violence through a Victim-Centered Approach. Through this directive, DHS formalized victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive approaches to addressing GBV. An accompanying instruction includes several provisions:
- The development of a new mandatory training on GBV and the victim-centered approach for DHS personnel who may interact with GBV survivors.
- A new requirement that DHS Components and offices that meet the definition of a T visa or U visa certifying agency provide copies of their certification policies to the CCGBV.
- The creation of informational resources for DHS personnel on GBV and secondary (vicarious) trauma to equip them with the knowledge and resources to effectively serve GBV survivors.
In December 2021, ICE issued Directive 11005.3:Using a Victim-Centered Approach with Noncitizen Crime Victims, a policy regarding civil immigration enforcement actions involving noncitizen crime victims, including applicants for and beneficiaries of victim-based immigration benefits and Continued Presence. Under this policy, ICE will exercise prosecutorial discretion in appropriate circumstances to facilitate access to justice and victim-based immigration benefits by noncitizen crime victims.
Additional Information
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services
- U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime
- National Human Trafficking Hotline
Council on Combating Gender-Based Violence
The Council on Combating Gender-Based Violence (CCGBV) is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) body that identifies best practices to prevent and address gender-based violence and helps implement those practices across DHS.