Gender based Violence and Security Challenges of Women in Ethiopia: With Special Focus on Women under Ethnic Conflicts

Abstract

Women and girls in general and those who are from minority group in particular are one of the most vulnerable groups to gender based violence in the courses of ethnic conflicts. This article delved the sources/causes and conditions that make gender based violence more complex among women under ethnic conflicts. Based on this aim qualitative method is employed and data was collected from relevant primary and secondary sources through interview and systematic literatures review. The social-ecological model, which enables us to figure out how a complex interplay among individual, relational/interpersonal/ community, societal factors create and perpetuate violence is used to pinpoint the sources/causes of various forms and types of gender based violence and data analyzed through content analyzes method. Inter-sectionality theory was used as analytical framework. The result depicted that regardless of progress towards minimizing violence against women and girls under ethnic conflicts, the mechanism used to minimize gender based violence are principally focused on direct violence. The result indicated that multiple vulnerabilities related to gender and marginality of women make gender based violence more complex. Finally, it is undeniable that without tackling structural frameworks and systems of governments and norms of the society that neglect and challenge the security of women, GBV cannot be eliminated and/or diminished. Thus, it is recommended that the government should assure gender responsive institutions and security sectors.