Gender-based violence (commonly referred to as violence against women) both reflects and reinforces inequality between men and women

and compromises the health, dignity, security and autonomy of its victims, of which 95% are women and girls. It encompasses a wide range of human rights violations, including sexual abuse

of children, rape, domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, trafficking of women and girls and several harmful traditional practices. Any one of these abuses can leave deep psychological scars, damage the health of women and girls in general, including their reproductive and sexual health, and in some instances, result in death.