Gender-based violence is defined as a form of violence toward a person or group of people based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression. It can be physical abuse (i.e. slapping, beating), sexual abuse (i.e. rape, coercive sex), psychological abuse (i.e. demeaning, intimidating), or economic abuse (i.e. forbidding someone from working, taking people’s earnings).
Although gender-based violence can happen to both men and women, the majority of victims/survivors are women. Therefore, some documents use “violence against women” as an alternative to gender-based violence. However, we also need to remember that people from gender minority communities such as gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders can be victims/survivors too.
In response to the gender-based violence situation in Vietnam, the Building Responsibility and Accountability for Gender-based Violence Elimination (BRAVE) project and the Enhancing Women’s Voice to Stop Sexual Harassment (STOP) project cooperated with illustration artist X.Lan, with financial support from the Australian Government, to produce an inspiring story under the online social campaign Listen Wholeheartedly. The campaign aims to raise public awareness about gender-based violence and, hence, promote the message of “how to be a proper confidant”.
