Gender-based violence
Gender-based violence (GBV) is harm done to someone because of their gender. It could involve force, threats, lies, cultural pressures, or money. Mostly, girls and women are victims of GBV. However, LGBTIQ+ people, boys, and men can also be victims. All types of sexual and gender-based violence violate someone’s human rights. Many of these acts are crimes and can be punished under Malaysian law.
Forms of Gender-Based Violence
Sexual violence is any sexual act done without the victim’s consent. It includes rape, sexual abuse, harassment, exploitation, and forced prostitution. This can happen between a husband and wife if one person does not agree to a sexual act. Any sexual act with a child (below the age of consent) is sexual violence. It hurts the child’s growth and health, both physically and mentally.
Physical violence is when someone is hurt physically – for example, hitting, punching, injuring seriously, or killing. It often happens at the same time as emotional and psychological harm.
Emotional or psychological violence is when someone is insulted or verbally abused. An example would be someone being called weak or being cursed at because she is a woman. It could mean keeping a person away from their friends and family or limiting where they can go.
Socio-economic violence is when a person is stopped from doing normal daily activities, for example, girls not being allowed to go to school or women being stopped from getting healthcare or working.
Domestic violence is harm done by one family member to another family member. It can be physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, or economic violence. It can be done by parents, spouses, partners, ex-partner, whether they live together or not.
Harmful practices include female circumcision, honour killings, polygamous marriages (marriages to more than one person), marriage of a child (any person who is younger than 18 years old) and forced marriage.
Sexual exploitation and abuse are unacceptable behaviours and prohibited for all United Nations and NGO partners’ staff members.
What is sexual exploitation?
Any actual or attempted misuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust for sexual purposes. For example, a teacher using their power to force a refugee child to commit a sexual act or an aid worker withholding much-needed services unless a refugee engage in sexual acts with them. It also includes trafficking and prostitution.
What is sexual abuse?
Any actual or threatened sexual activity carried out forcefully or under unequal or coercive conditions. This can include rape, sexual assault, or verbal sexual harassment.
Sexual exploitation and abuse can occur to anyone – men, women, boys, girls, of any age, with or without disabilities, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and in any circumstances.
In line with the United Nations standards of conduct, staff members of UNHCR and NGO partners must not:
- Have sexual activity with anyone in exchange for money, employment, preferential treatment, goods, or services.
- Have sexual activity with anyone under 18 years of age.
- Engage in any other form of sexually humiliating, degrading or exploitative behaviour.
If you are aware of or have concerns or suspicions about a possible case of sexual exploitation and abuse by a staff member, interpreters from UNHCR, its partners, other UN actors,you can confidentially report this directly to UNHCR Inspector General Office by using the online complaint form.
What you need to know:
- Your report will be handled with strict confidentiality.
- Provide as much information about all facts and evidence known to you.
- You can do it anonymously, but it helps if you are reachable.
- Please note that filing a complaint will not in any way impact your case with UNHCR.
- If a criminal act has been committed, you can also make a police report.
- All complainants and whistle-blowers will be linked with support services and assistance, with your consent.
Support for GBV survivors
UNHCR seeks to support any refugee or asylum-seeker who has experienced gender-based violence (GBV), such as domestic violence, sexual violence, forced or child marriage, harassment, or human trafficking. If you or someone you know needs GBV assistance, please reach out to one of the UNHCR partners listed below:
Partner organisations
Cahaya Surya Bakti (CSB)
Services: Case management and referrals to appropriate services
Area: Johor
Language: English, Malay and Rohingya
Operating hours: 8.30am-4.30pm, Monday-Friday
WhatsApp: +6018 577 0040, +6018 394 4401, +6018 988 0040
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Services: Clinical case management, mental health and psychosocial support services, referrals to appropriate services
Area: Penang
Language: English, Bahasa Malaysia, Rohingya, Burmese
Operating hours: 9.00am-10.00pm, Monday to Sunday
Medical Hotline: +60111 614 5454
Government Services
Police
You have the right to report any threat or GBV incident at any police station. Please remember to bring along your identification documents when you make a police report.
Police reports can only be made in either Bahasa Malaysia or English. The report will contain details of what happened, the date and time it occurred, where it happened, and who committed the violence. If you cannot speak Bahasa Malaysia or English, try to bring along someone you trust who can help translate your report into Bahasa Malaysia or English.
UNHCR partners, such as Social Work Without Borders (SWWB) can provide more information on how to make a police report. You can WhatsApp SWWB at +6016 940 0074 before making a report to get more information on what needs to be done.
One Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC)
One Stop Crisis Centres are located in the Emergency Department of most government hospitals. Survivors of GBV violence who approach an OSCC can receive a physical examination, medical treatment, and a test for sexually transmitted infections. The OSCC can also help connect you with the police and the shelter and counselling services.
More information on OSCC services can be found on the WAO website, but the information is only in English.
Watch UNHCR Gender-Based Violence webinar to learn more about gender-based violence and protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) webinar to understand what sexual exploitation and sexual abuse are.