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Gender Inequality and Violence

Gender Inequality and Violence

Gender inequality and gender-based violence (GBV) remain widespread in India and across Africa, denying women and girls safety, dignity, and equal opportunity.

In South Sudan, over 65% of women and girls have experienced physical or sexual violence, while in the Central African Republic, 1 in 4 women faces similar abuse amid ongoing instability. Across sub-Saharan Africa, about one-third of women endure intimate-partner violence.

In India, despite legal reforms, inequality persists, ranking 108 of 193 countries on the UNDP Gender Inequality Index (2022). Around 35% of women aged 15–49 have faced domestic or intimate-partner violence. Discrimination, early marriage, unequal pay, and exclusion from leadership continue to limit women’s participation and perpetuate cycles of poverty.

Our Response

The Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI) is committed to transforming lives by addressing both the symptoms and roots of gender inequality and gender-based violence.

DMI works in South Sudan and the Central African Republic, partnering with war-affected communities to support survivors of violence through counselling, hospital referrals, and livelihood programs such as tailoring, bead-making, and entrepreneurship. These initiatives empower women to regain confidence, rebuild livelihoods, and challenge social systems that limit their participation in education, decision-making, and economic life.

In India, DMI reaches marginalized rural and urban communities through awareness campaigns, including the 16 Days of Activism, leadership and life-skills workshops, vocational training, and psychosocial and medical support for survivors. These holistic programs foster gender-sensitive mindsets, shared family responsibility, and community solidarity to create safe and equitable environments for women and girls.

Through this integrated approach, DMI not only provides immediate relief and rehabilitation to survivors but also tackles the structural and cultural roots of gender inequality and violence. By nurturing confidence, resilience, and leadership, DMI enables women and girls to become agents of change, building a just, equitable, and violence-free society for all.