I truly believe that society pays attention to Gender Based Violence (GBV) when it comes to men because, even though online statistics show that the highest number of GBV victims are women, we can’t ignore the fact that what was initially known as Violence against Women was changed to Gender Based Violence. This was done to fight against gender inequality or violence that is inflicted on anyone based on their gender. 

According to online sources gender is a range of physical, biological, mental and behavioural characteristics pertaining to, and differentiating between, masculinity and femininity. Depending on the context, the term may refer to biological sex (i.e. the state of being male, female or intersex), sex-based social structures (including gender roles and other social roles), or gender identity.

A report published on eycb.coe.int "Manual on gender based violence against young people” defined gender-based violence as an umbrella term for any harm that is perpetrated against a person’s will; that has a negative impact on the physical or psychological health, development, and identity of the person; and that is the result of gendered power inequities that exploit distinctions between males and females, among males, and among females. Although not exclusive to women and girls, GBV principally affects them across all cultures. Violence may be physical, sexual, psychological, economic, or sociocultural. 

I believe that society pays attention to GBV as a social vice and not as a women’s issue like most people think. If it was the case, the police would not record cases where men have been battered by women. At least 43 assaults committed against men were recorded by the Rwandan police in 2013. 

If I’m to zero it down to Rwanda, to show that society pays attention to GBV when it comes to men, a non-government organisation known as Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre (RWAMREC) was set up with the aim to address issues of negative masculinity. Therefore society needs to be informed that the fight against GBV does not discriminate, it’s a social vice that affects everyone and not just women. 

There are a few cases recorded of men who are victims of GBV mainly because men are scared of being stigmatised by society.

 It’s seen as social abomination for a woman to assault a man. Male GBV victims only report the case when another party witnessed the violence and they have no way to hide it. 

Therefore joint efforts are needed to deal with GBV and its everyone‘s role to see that GBV as a social vice is no more. GBV is not a woman’s fight alone; it’s a fight for the whole society because it’s a social vice.