Microsoft Word - ASSC-V4N2-p19 Advances in Social Science and Culture ISSN 2640-9682 (Print) ISSN 2640-9674 (Online) Vol. 4, No. 2, 2022 www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/assc 19 Original Paper On the Effectiveness of Government Policy on Gender Based Violence in Maryland County, Harper City, Halfman Station Case Study of Republic of Liberia Agnes B. Greene, King Jawol1* & Adetunde, I. A.1 1 College of Management and Administration, W. V. S. Tubman University, Harper, Maryland County, Republic of Liberia * Agnes B. Greene, King Jawol, College of Management and Administration, W. V. S. Tubman University, Harper, Maryland County, Republic of Liberia Received: March 16, 2022 Accepted: April 20, 2022 Online Published: April 18, 2022 doi:10.22158/assc.v4n2p19 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.22158/assc.v4n2p19 Abstract This paper presents the numerical analysis of the effectiveness of Government Policy on Gender Based Violence in Harper City, Maryland County. Data used were collected from the case study area and was analysed. The study revealed that there is a great effect on the Government Policy on Gender based violence in the case study of this article. Keywords Gender Based Violence, Halfman Station, Harper City 1. Introduction Gender Based Violence means all acts of gender‐based violence that result in, or are likely to result in, physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion, arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. www. http://eige.europa.eu/gender-based-violence/what-is-gender-based-violence (Accessed on 19, Feb. 2016) According to the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW); the term “gender-based violence” refers to violence that targets individuals or groups on the basis of their gender. It was further explained as “violence that is directed against a woman because she is a woman or that affects women www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/assc Advances in Social Science and Culture Vol. 4, No. 2, 2022 20 Published by SCHOLINK INC. disproportionately” (http://www.irinnews.org/feature/2004/09/01/definitions-sexual-and-gender-based-violence) This gender violence happens to women/ladies/ girls (females) because men/boys/ capitalized on the Holy Book of the Christians that referred to women as a weaker vessel (I Peter 3: 7). Even right from the creation it was said by the Holy Books that woman (Eve) was created from the ribs of Adam, Gen 2: 22. Irrespective of this belief, we still have women of whom were values and valour, among them are: Deborah the first Prophetess (Judges 5: 1-end), Esther, (Esther 4:16), Ruth, Abigail, Elizabeth and Mary in the Holy Book of Christian “Bible” Nightingale, Queen Elizabeth of England just to mention but few women of valour It is the saying that behind any successful man there is a woman, female should not be treated anyhow, even though the wise men/women, men and women of old said the greatest evil in life that man can never be avoided is woman. With all these saying women should not be looked at as or treated as vulnerable object, because of the fragile nature God has created feminine. 2. Origin on Gender Violence The origin of gender violence is as old as creation. God said in Gen 2:18 -19 that woman/wife should be help mate to man/husband. But an Africa Culture has seen woman as slave when they were married. Husband at times maltreated the wife because of the dowry they pay for marrying a woman. Some men see the wife as boxing punches, maltreated them anyhow at any time. 2.1 Types of Violence Domestic Violence: Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and emotional abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically; however, the one constant component of domestic violence is one partner’s consistent efforts to maintain power and control over the other. Domestic violence is an epidemic affecting individual in every community, regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. It is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior that is only a fraction of a systematic pattern of dominance and control. Domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma, and in severe cases, even death. The devastating physical, emotional, and psychological consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime. (http://www.ncadv.org/need-help/what-is-domestic-violence, accessed on 24th Feb, 2016) Child Abuse (child maltreatment): is when a parent or caregiver, whether through action or failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child. There are many forms of child maltreatment, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, and emotional abuse. (https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/) www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/assc Advances in Social Science and Culture Vol. 4, No. 2, 2022 21 Published by SCHOLINK INC. Sexual Violence: Sexual violence includes sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. It refers to any act, attempt, or threat of a sexual nature that result, or is likely to result in, physical, psychological and emotional harm. Sexual violence is a form of gender-based violence. “Violence against women shall be understood to encompass, but not be limited to, the following: Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation; Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution; Physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the State, wherever it occurs.” 3. Sexual and Gender-Based Violence There are 5 types of Sexual and Gender-based violence; ● Sexual Violence, ● Physical Violence, ● Emotional and Psychological Violence, ● Harmful Traditional Practices and ● Socio-Economic Violence. 3.1 Sexual Violence Rape and marital rape: The invasion of any part of the body of the victim or of the perpetrator with a sexual organ, or of the anal or genital opening of the victim with any object or any other part of the body by force, coercion, taking advantage of a coercive environment, or against a person incapable of giving genuine consent (International Criminal Court). Child sexual abuse, defilement and incest: Any act where a child is used for sexual gratification. Any sexual relations/interaction with a child. Forced sodomy/anal rape: Forced/coerced anal intercourse, usually male-to-male or male- to-female. Attempted rape or attempted forced sodomy/anal rape: Attempted forced/coerced intercourse; no penetration. Sexual abuse: Actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, including inappropriate touching, by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. Sexual exploitation: Any abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust for sexual purposes; this includes profiting momentarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another; Sexual exploitation is one of the purposes of trafficking in persons (performing in a sexual manner, forced undressing and/or nakedness, coerced marriage, forced childbearing, engagement in pornography or prostitution, sexual extortion for the granting of goods, services, assistance benefits, sexual slavery). www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/assc Advances in Social Science and Culture Vol. 4, No. 2, 2022 22 Published by SCHOLINK INC. Forced prostitution (also referred to as sexual exploitation): Forced/coerced sex trade in exchange for material resources, services and assistance, usually targeting highly vulnerable women or girls unable to meet basic human needs for themselves and/or their children. Sexual harassment: Any unwelcome, usually repeated and unreciprocated sexual advance, unsolicited sexual attention, demand for sexual access or favours, sexual innuendo or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, display or pornographic material, when it interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. Sexual violence as a weapon of war and torture: Crimes against humanity of a sexual nature, including rape, sexual slavery, forced abortion or sterilization or any other forms to prevent birth, forced pregnancy, forced delivery, and forced child rearing, among others. Sexual violence as a form of torture is a defined as any act or threat of a sexual nature by which severe mental or physical pain or suffering is caused to obtain information, confession of punishment from the victim or third person, intimidate her or a third person or to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. 3.2 Physical Violence Physical Assault: Beating, punching, kicking, biting, burning, maiming or killing, with or without weapons; often in combinations with other forms of sexual and gender-based violence. Trafficking, slavery: Selling and/or trading in human beings for forced sexual activities, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slaver, servitude or removal of organs. 4. Emotional and Psychological Violence Abuse/Humiliation: Non-sexual verbal abuse that is insulting, degrading, demeaning; compelling the victim/survivor to engage in humiliating acts, whether in public or private; denying basic expenses for family survival. Confinement: Isolating a person from friends/family, restricting movements, deprivation of liberty or obstruction/restriction of the right to free movement. 4.1 Harmful Traditional Practices Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Cutting of genital organs for non-medical reasons, usually done at a young age; ranges from partial or total cutting, removal of genitals stitching whether for cultural or non-therapeutic reasons; often undergone several times during life-time, i.e., after delivery or if a girl/woman has been victim of sexual assault. Early marriage: Arranged marriage under the age of legal consent (sexual intercourse in such relationships constitutes statutory rape, as the girls are not legally competent to agree to such unions). Forced marriage: Arranged marriage against the victim’s/survivor’s wishes, which is exposed to violent and/or abusive consequences if he/she refuses to comply. Honour killing and maiming: Maiming or murdering a woman or a girl as a punishment for acts considered inappropriate with regards to her gender, and which are believed to bring shame on the www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/assc Advances in Social Science and Culture Vol. 4, No. 2, 2022 23 Published by SCHOLINK INC. family or community (e.g., pouring acid on a young woman’s face as punishment for bringing shame to the family for attempting to marry someone not chosen by the family), or to preserve the honour of the family (i.e., as a redemption for an offence committed by a male member of the family). Infanticide and/or neglect: Killing, withholding food from, and/or neglecting female children because they are considered to be of less value in a society than male children. Denial of education for girls or women: Removing girls from school, prohibiting or obstructing access of girls and women to basic, technical, professional or scientific knowledge. 4.2 Socio-Economic Violence Discrimination and/or denial of opportunities, services: Exclusion, denial of access to education, health assistance or remunerated employment; denial of property rights. Social exclusion/ostracism based on sexual orientation: Denial of access to services or social benefits, prevention of the exercise and enjoyment of civil, social, economic, cultural and political rights, imposition of criminal penalties, discriminatory practices or physical and psychological harm and tolerance of discriminatory practices, public or private hostility to homosexuals, transsexuals or transvestites. 4.3 Theoretical Literature Review The Governments of all countries are busy trying to stop or eradicate gender-based violence. This matter had been of great concern to the international world. Due to these gender-based violence across the globe several programs have been initiated across the continents. Human Rights and Gender Based Violence (Constitution of the republic of Liberia, Section 4.1.6 says that): This section focuses on promoting and protecting human rights by implementing relevant national laws and externally approved standards and preventing and responding to gender-based violence. It calls for: Integrating international and regional human rights instruments: Ensuring the domestication of all international, regional, and sub-regional instruments and reporting on the CRC, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimina-tion against Women (CEDAW), the African Union Protocol on the Rights of Women, and commitments made on ECOWAS Gender Policy. Revising existing laws and enacting new laws to harmonize both customary and civil laws with international human rights standards. Increasing public awareness and institutional knowledge of human rights: Translating and writing ‘popular versions’ of human rights instruments, relevant laws, and constitutional provisions in user-friendly language to disseminate and raise awareness, especially in rural areas. Providing gender education and human rights training for all¬ government, civil society, and other organizations, with a focus on law enforcement officers and the judiciary. Preventing gender-based violence (GBV): www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/assc Advances in Social Science and Culture Vol. 4, No. 2, 2022 24 Published by SCHOLINK INC. Promoting, enacting and implementing laws against all forms of GBV, including but not limited to rape, sexual exploitation and abuse, domestic violence, early and forced marriage, and human trafficking. Enhancing the capacity of law enforcement institutions and health care providers to effectively prevent and respond to GBV. Conducting gender sensitization and public awareness campaigns on GBV targeting the entire society, including men, women, youth, boys and girls, and educational institutions. Enacting and enforcing laws against sexual harassment and abuse in all workplaces. Responding to gender-based violence: Formulating and implementing welfare schemes or programs to rehabilitate and reintegrate GBV survivors. Establishing comprehensive shelters for GBV survivors and providing psychosocial support facilities and programs, including economic empowerment programs for women and girls. Establishing partnerships among the public and private sectors, civil society, local communities, those in leadership positions, and other institutions such as the media to implement integrated GBV programs that include counselling, legal advice, medical treatment, and protection. Designing programs aimed at addressing perpetrators of GBV and other forms of violence against women and children. Monitoring and addressing gender-based violence holistically: Regularly conducting investigative research, monitoring and mapping to assess the situation of GBV in the country. Coordinating, facilitating and monitoring the implementation of the National GBV Plan of Action. 4.4 The National Gender Policy in Liberia The results of the 2007 Demographic and Health Survey provided the following estimations for GBV in the country. For women aged between 15 and 49, 44% have experienced physical violence since they were 15 years old, 29% reported physical violence in the past 12 months and 17.6% sexual violence in their lifetime. For women aged between 25 and 39, this rate increased to 22% of those experiencing sexual violence; 32% reported it coming from their current husbands or partner; 10.2% from their current or former boyfriend; and 8.1% from a police or soldier. Although all forms of GBV need to be addressed, specific targeted action must be prioritized for sexual violence and exploitation that is perpetrated against young children, including boys. In order to build a more effective, responsive and supportive legal, social and political environment, including all aspects of protection and access to justice, health care and education, measures need to be put in place for the prevention of and response to GBV including working towards eliminating it altogether. There are a lot of policies, groups of women, government and non-governmental organizations, societies formed to fight for equal rights. 4.5 Empirical literature Review At the General Assembly of the United Nations in the year 1993 at Geneva, defined “gender based violence (GBV)” “as: … any act of violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/assc Advances in Social Science and Culture Vol. 4, No. 2, 2022 25 Published by SCHOLINK INC. psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivations of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life” under the theme “The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination Violence against Women”. With reference to Cari Clark in 2003, in his Working Paper #17, titled Gender-Based Violence Research Initiatives in Refugee, Internally Displaced, and Post-Conflict Settings: Lessons Learned; he defined Gender-based violence (GBV) as any harm that is rooted in social roles and inequitable power structures. Women and children are over-represented among those with less power and thus are more likely to experience GBV. Even so, research among male victims of GBV is seriously lacking, especially in conflict-affected populations. The parameters of GBV are more clearly defined for women and usually in terms of violence against women. According to Harding (1978) who talked about victimology as an act that goes against the empowerment philosophy that underpins feminist action. These acts of violence are mainly perpetrated against women. High magnitudes of violence were reported as a direct consequence of the Liberian civil war, wherein 49% of the 205 female research participants reported at least one act of physical or sexual violence by a soldier or fighter as recorded by Swiss et al. (1998). Patricia Kameri-Mbote, (2002), looked at GBV from cultural point of that cultural views on the role of women within a family unit may also have a negative impact on women’s, this is another form of Victimization. In many African countries, for example, a lack of acknowledgment of women as heads of households has led to discrimination in resource allocation and inheritance laws. Violence Against Women (VAW) occurs in all societies and at any stage of a woman's lifecycle. It can even occur before a girl is born through sex- selective abortion and menace women throughout their old age. Some types of VAW such as sexual violence and domestic violence, occur in all cultures, although they are more common in some than others (Poudel, 2011). The consequences of GBV are pervasive, affecting the health and well-being of survivors, their families, and their societies. (Heise et al., 1999; Heise et al., 1994). The international community has acknowledged the impact of GBV on women’s rights, development, and peace through the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo and the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing (UN, 1994; UN, 1995) which stated thus “advancing gender equality and equity and the empowerment of women, and the elimination of all kinds of violence against women, and ensuring women's ability to control their own fertility, are cornerstones of population and development-related programmes” (UN 1994, Principle 4). Despite very progressive policy and legal frameworks on gender equality, Liberia is struggling with endemic violence against women and children. Many groups of women, government and non-governmental organisations periodically embark on various anti gender-based violence campaigns, the culture of violence stubbornly persists for various historical, social, economic, political and cultural reasons (Lamb, 2006; Burton, Leoschut and Popovac, 2011; Women’s Leadership Centre, 2010). www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/assc Advances in Social Science and Culture Vol. 4, No. 2, 2022 26 Published by SCHOLINK INC. 4.6 Analysis and Discussion of Results Violence Against Women (VAW) occurs in all societies and at any stage of a woman's lifecycle. It can even occur before a girl is born through sex- selective abortion and menace women throughout their old age. Some types of VAW such as sexual violence and domestic violence, occur in all cultures, although they are more common in some than others (Poudel, 2011). Gender-based violence is prevalent globally. It occurs in many forms, as discussed in the main body of this work these including intimate partner violence, rape and coerced sex, child sexual abuse, and human trafficking. Such forms of gender-based violence are a significant risk factor for poor health, impacting on individuals’ physical, sexual and psychological health, as well as their social and economic well-being. The investigation was very well received, and the community female members interrogated/respondents reported that the questionnaire with the focus group discussion has increased their motivation and capacity to violence against genders. Still, participants highlighted the need for a more integrated training and awareness on violence against genders. Table 1. Percentage Distribution of Socio- Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents Characteristics Age Number Percentage (%) 15 -19 27 11.3% 20-24 43 18.1% 25-29 42 17.7% 30-34 43 18.1% 35-39 34 14.3% 40-44 36 15.1% 45-49 12 5.0% Total 237 100% Marital Status Married 48 20.2% Never married 77 32.5% Divorced 31 13.1% Separated 69 29.1% Widowed 12 05.1% Total 237 100% Educational Background Basic 97 40.9% Middle/JSS 52 21.9% www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/assc Advances in Social Science and Culture Vol. 4, No. 2, 2022 27 Published by SCHOLINK INC. Secondary 38 16% Tertiary 22 9.2% None 28 11.8% Total 237 100% What Job do you do Student 58 24.5% Clerical 17 07.2% Business 28 11.8% Farmer 15 06.3% Public Servant 37 15.6% None 82 34.5% Total 237 100% How many children do you have? 1 – 3 127 76% 4 – 5 32 19% 6 – 9 8 4.8% 10 – 14 0 0 15 – 18 0 0 Total 167 100% Table 2. Percentage Age Distribution of Focus Group Discussion of the Respondents Characteristics Age Number Percentage (%) 15 – 24 70 29.5% 25 – 34 85 35.8% 35 – 44 70 29.5% 45 above 12 5.0% Total 237 100% Table 3. Sex Statistics Distribution of Maryland County County/District Male Female Total Gwelekpoken 5,370 4,690 10,060 Harper 19,591 18,433 38,024 Karluway #1 4,501 3,993 8,494 Karluway #2 9,429 7,730 17,159 www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/assc Advances in Social Science and Culture Vol. 4, No. 2, 2022 28 Published by SCHOLINK INC. Pleebo/Sodoken 21,884 21,339 43,223 Whojay 4,761 4,160 8,921 Nyorken 5,319 4738 10,057 Total population of Maryland 70,855 65,083 135,838 Source: (LIGIST) Office for 2008 Survey Harper, Maryland County. Table 4. Offences Distribution on Gender Based Violence from December, January and February Report Harper, Maryland Co No. WACPS Unit Case No. Date reported Place occurred Victim sex Victim age Offender sex Offender age Offence Nationality Statusssss 1. Maryland 1 12/29/15 Green street F 16 M 18 Simple Assault Liberia Resolved 2. Maryland 2 12/31/15 Jacksonville F 18 M 19 Simple Assault Liberia Resolved 3. Maryland 3 1/04/16 Whole graway F 19 M 28 Simple Assault Liberia Resolve 4. Maryland 4 1/07/16 Old kru Town F 41 M 36 Aggravated Assault Liberia Resolved 5. Maryland 5 1/08/16 Middle-cess F 20 M 19 Simple Assault Liberia Resolve 6. Maryland 6 1/22/16 Hoffman station F 14 M 20 Disorderly Conduct Liberian Resolve 7. Maryland 7 1/30/16 Pleebo F 13 M 38 Persistent non support Liberia Resolve 8. Maryland 8 2/04/16 Pleebo F 30 M 34 Persistent non support Liberia Court 9. Maryland 9 2/10/16 Pleebo F 37 M 27 Sample Assault Liberia Court 10. Maryland 10 2/19/16 Pleebo F 19 M 35 Attempted Rape Liberia Pending 11. Maryland 11 2/20/16 Pleebo F 41 M 19 Rape Liberia Pending Source: Child Protection Office, Harper Maryland County. www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/assc Advances in Social Science and Culture Vol. 4, No. 2, 2022 29 Published by SCHOLINK INC. 5. Discussions of the Analysis The major findings from this research work are based on the questionnaire circulated among the respondents. These major findings are summarized below: Table 1 depicts the percentage distribution of socio – demographic characteristics of the respondents (age, marital status, education backgrounds, occupations and the number of children each of the respondents is having. Table 2 deals with percentage age distribution of focus group discussion for the respondents. Table 3 reveals sex statistics distribution in Maryland County, while Table 4 emphasizes on the offences distribution of gender based violence in Harper, Maryland, Republic of Liberia. Knowledge of GBV Majority of the female (70%) that they were not been violated while 10% said they have been violated and 20% do not know of any in their life time. With reference to question 2 on the appendix B, 98% indicated that they never reported case (s) of violation in their community, while 10% indicated they have reported and 10% proved they do not know. In line with question 3 of the appendix, 100% cleared that do not know of anyone been violated before. 99% responded that they do not know of any government policy on GBV, while 1% responded that they are aware of government policies, this is also in line with question number 4 that says that are you aware of government policies on GBV. 5.1 Awareness of the Cases of GBV 98% supported that cases of GBV were not reported in their community, 1% responded that the case(s) was/were reported and 1% signified that they were not aware or do not know. The same result was indicated for question, which stated that “Do you know of any organization/establishment fighting against GBV in your Community?” Response to the question, 99% choose “No” answer for the question. Questions 11 and 12 have the same results of 99.5% for “No” and 1% for “Yes” 100% supported that there should be benefit from the government to be giving to people that are violated. 6. Conclusion This work highlighted, addressed and enumerated different types of violence and the government policies on gender-based violence. International standard-setting developments have succeeded in priori- tizing attention towards the recognition and cessation of sexual violence. However, much remains to be accomplished in terms of protection, prosecution, and prevention, as compliance, implementation, and accountability remain on-going challenges. Recommendations From the finding, hence the following approaches are suggested and recommended to address the issues of gender balanced violence in our family(ies), community(ies), clan(s), village(s), town(s) city(ies) and at governmental levels to reduce or eradicate GBV the . These approaches are applicable www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/assc Advances in Social Science and Culture Vol. 4, No. 2, 2022 30 Published by SCHOLINK INC. at community level, at the program implementation level, Institutional mechanisms level, and Policy level. At the Community Level 1. Awareness of GBV should be raised at the community level: The research shows that there is no or little awareness of a number of factors that may contribute to GBV. This awareness may be done through mass media (Radio Stations and Television Stations, National Newspapers) and from people-to-people should be encouraged and reinforced. This awareness of GBV should be a program that would (a) Target individual young men and women of the community, like community leaders, traditional leaders (priests), spiritual leaders (pastors, reverends, Imams, bishops, evangelists, village leaders, commissioners, politicians, school headmasters/mistresses, principals, etc.) (b) educate community members about their human rights related to GBV (c) involve the important role family members and friends in preventing GBV, as well as helping victims seek assistance and justice (d) provide needed assistant in preventing GBV through some local and international NGOs, Government functionaries, agencies, 2. Accountability of policy and program must be in place, this will help the community to be able to evaluate and assess the innovative mechanisms that have been put in place. 3. Educating the community members through audio and visual aids about the GBV. The telecommunications industries should highly be involved in this education program. 4. Funding and support of any initiative program at the community should be giving a priority at the community level for the awareness. 5. Use of regular focus group discussions, interviews with important personalities on GBV should be encouraged at the community level for the awareness. 6. Interventions for the victims of GBV should be highly considered at the community level. Creating more opportunities for women to become linked, in ways that are locally appropriate, to other social circles in the communities in which they live. 7. Law enforcement agencies should buckle up their belt for the GBV propaganda. At the program implementation level 1. Improve/develop and/or strengthen regular training programs at the district level and below to raise NGOs and Government staff awareness on GBV-related laws and the services available to victims, emphasizing the staff obligation to enforce the law and provide services addressing GBV. 2. Official awareness and accountability at both NGOs and Government staff should be taking as a paramount thing as far as GBV is concern. 3. Staff annual performance evaluation on GBV should be taking very serious for staff promotion; this will enable NGOs and Government staff to be more dedicated and diligent on their job. 4. Incentives and motivation of staff should be of high priority for the workers of GBV. 5. Full implementation of GBV laws. This can be achieved through: (a) Increase victims’ access to timely, legally credible, medical screening in cases of reported sexual assault, by having, for example, a www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/assc Advances in Social Science and Culture Vol. 4, No. 2, 2022 31 Published by SCHOLINK INC. centralized, fully trained, specialist medical team (e.g., at district/local level) able to travel to more remote areas on short notice in cases of alleged sexual assault. (b) Mobilize trained Female Community Health Volunteers to help victims get medical services where the assault occurred. (c) Improve accessibility of shelter homes, and enhance the quality and availability of services offered by them. For example, ensure that shelters have adequate financial resources, increase the number of homes available to survivors and/or improve referrals between service providers, and ensure that extended stays are possible if warranted. (d) Mobilize local media, community radios in particular, to disseminate information about availability, locations and procedures for accessing shelter services. [A Study on Gender-Based Violence Conducted in Selected Rural District of Nepal (2012)] 6. Mechanisms to prevent and reduce GBV should be looked at and fully implemented. At the Policy level 1. Review and revisions of policies and specific laws on GBV should be adhere to 2. Bridging the gap between the existing laws and circumstances of various GBV that has some loop holes. 3. Police cum Judiciary should be giving more power to look into/investigate any GBV. 4. Publicity of education materials on GBV should be made available for community members to have learn from, read and teach others. 5. Data base management should be established/use to improve the situation of GBV, made available for research to guide against any other eventuality. 6. Men should be ready to blow the trumpet for gender balance to guide against any GBV. 7. 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