Gender-Based Violence in Latin America: Limitations and Challenges to Comprehensive Protection
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17109724Keywords:
gender-based violence, gender equality, human rightsAbstract
This article analyzes protection against gender-based violence (GBV) in Latin America, moving beyond the traditional perspective focused exclusively on women. The objective is to understand the advances and challenges in protection against GBV from a qualitative approach, considering the inclusion of all victims and criticism of current institutional regulations and practices. The methodology used consisted of a comparative analysis of the legislation of Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia, complemented by an exhaustive review of the specialized literature on GBV. Data analysis was carried out using qualitative techniques, specifically thematic coding and narrative analysis, which allowed for the identification of recurring patterns and themes. The findings show regulatory progress in all three countries, albeit with significant limitations. While there are comprehensive legal frameworks that include criminal penalties, prevention measures, and victim care, there is a focus on women, excluding men, transgender people, and other vulnerable groups. This exclusion restricts access to justice and perpetuates stigma. Protection against GBV requires an intersectional approach based on equality and equity, which transcends the traditional perspective and guarantees comprehensive protection for all victims. It is concluded that a thorough review of regulations and policies is necessary to ensure effective and inclusive protection, by adapting public policies and care protocols to the specific needs of each vulnerable group.
Downloads
References
Acale Sánchez, M., & Fernández-Matos, D. (2024). Presentación del monográfico violencia de género. Justicia, 29(46), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.17081/just.29.46.8029
Aguirre, J., & Pabón, A. (2020). Hacia una epistemología jurídica crítica: precisiones y distinciones sobre epistemología jurídica, métodos y metodología. Entramado, 16(2), 186–201. https://doi.org/10.18041/1900-3803/entramado.2.6576
Akamike, I. C., Uneke, C. J., Uro-Chukwu, H. C., Okedo-Alex, I. N., & Chukwu, O. E. (2019). Predictors and facilitators of gender-based violence in sub-Saharan Africa: A rapid review. Journal of Global Health Reports, 3, e2019076. https://doi.org/10.29392/joghr.3.e2019076
Bates, J. (2022). The violence of norms: Resisting repertoires of gender violence in post-conflict Colombia. Journal of Gender Studies, 31(2), 153–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2020.1855130
Costa, S. (2016). Protection without redistribution? Conceptual limitations of policies meant to reduce race and gender inequalities in Brazil. In A moment of equality for Latin America? Challenges for redistribution (pp. 235–249). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315564920-22
Davis, G. E. (2023). Reacting to non-prototypical victims: Blame, empathy, and willingness to label sexual assaults of men and sexual minority victims. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(11–12), 7457–7484. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605221145709
Depraetere, J., Vandeviver, C., Van Beken, T., & Keygnaert, I. (2020). Big boys don’t cry: A critical interpretive synthesis of male sexual victimization. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 21(5), 991–1010. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838018816979
Fernández-Matos, D., Buitrago, B., Almanza-Iglesia, M., & Villanueva-Hincapié, C. (2022). Tolerancia institucional de la violencia contra las mujeres. Justicia, 27(42), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.17081/just.27.42.6068
Freidenberg, F., & Gilas, K. M. (2022). ¿Normas poco exigentes? Los niveles de exigencia normativa de las leyes contra la violencia política en razón de género en América Latina. Política y Sociedad, 59(1), e77802. https://doi.org/10.5209/poso.77802
Frías Miranda, L. X. (2025). Comprendiendo la violencia de género en adolescentes en el contexto latinoamericano y europeo. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14967008
Garro, M., Bonfanti, R. C., Argento, A., & Ruggieri, S. (2024). Violence against men and its effects within the workplace: A literature review. Social Sciences, 13(12), 636. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13120636
Hernández, R., Fernández, C., & Baptista, P. (2018). Metodología de la investigación. McGraw-Hill Education. https://bellasartes.upn.edu.co/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/METODOLOGIA-DE-LA-INVESTIGACION-Sampieri-Mendoza-2018.pdf
Herrera, G. (2021). The sociology of gender in Latin America: From social mothers to sexual rights. In X. Bada & L. Rivera-Sánchez (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of the sociology of Latin America (online ed.). Oxford Academic. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190926557.013.31
Kibret, Y. S., Mengascha, E. W., Gedef, G. M., & Asresie, M. B. (2024). Gender-based violence and its associated factors among reproductive-age women in Soqota town, Amhara Region, Northern Ethiopia, 2023. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 20, 100757. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2024.100757
Lagos Reinoso, G. G., Jurado Ronquillo, M. C., & Triviño Bloisse, S. Y. (2022). Aportes de la teoría de género para la emancipación latinoamericana. Revista de Filosofía, 39, 325–339. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7302079
Ley N.° 30364. Ley para prevenir, sancionar y erradicar la violencia contra las mujeres y los integrantes del grupo familiar. (2015, 23 de noviembre). Perú. https://spij.minjus.gob.pe/spij-ext-web/#/detallenorma/H1141065
Ley N.° 348. Ley integral para garantizar a las mujeres una vida libre de violencia. (2013). Bolivia. https://bolivia.vlex.com/vid/ley-n-348-ley-941398177
Ley N.° 1753. Por la cual se expide el Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2014-2018 “Todos por un nuevo país”. (2015, 9 de junio). Colombia. https://www.funcionpublica.gov.co/eva/gestornormativo/norma.php?i=61933
Lukasiak, M., Palmieri, J., Svensson, P., Tumwine, G., & Agardh, A. (2024). Exploring perceptions and experiences of gender-based violence among women in a refugee camp setting in Uganda: A qualitative study. PLoS ONE, 19(12), e0314972. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314972
Malik, J., & Nadda, N. (2019). A cross-sectional study of gender-based violence against men in the rural area of Haryana, India. Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 44(1), 35–38. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijcm.IJCM_222_18
Manente, M. T., & Boiano, I. (2024). International legal sources. In Gender and politics (pp. 141–162). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-59831-9_9
Marotta, J. (2023). The international legal framework on gender-based violence. In Gender-based violence: A comprehensive guide (pp. 593–603). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05640-6_41
Mergaert, L., Linková, M., & Strid, S. (2023). Theorising gender-based violence policies: A 7P framework. Social Sciences, 12(7), 385. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12070385
Mio-López, J. J. (2024). Criterios racionales de valoración de la pericia psicológica en delitos sexuales: Análisis de decisiones judiciales. Justicia, 29(46), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.17081/just.29.46.7551
Ministerio de la Mujer y Poblaciones Vulnerables del Perú. (2016). Violencia basada en género: Marco conceptual para las políticas públicas y la acción del Estado. https://www.mimp.gob.pe/files/direcciones/dgcvg/mimp-marco-conceptual-violencia-basada-en-genero.pdf
Moanac, P., Docal, M., Castillo, C., Angulo, C., & Ortega, Y. (2022). Exposición a la violencia de pareja: Comprensiones desde su naturalización en hombres y mujeres colombianos. Revista de Salud Pública, 24(2), 1–5. http://www.scielo.org.co/pdf/rsap/v24n2/0124-0064-rsap-24-02-1e.pdf
Murphy, M., Ellsberg, M., Balogun, A., et al. (2021). Risk and protective factors for GBV among women and girls living in humanitarian setting: Systematic review protocol. Systematic Reviews, 10, 238. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01795-2
Orellana, A., & Cantuta, E. (2024). Violencia doméstica hacia hombres lustra calzados afiliados a la asociación “Vamos Juntos”, Bolivia. Portal de la Ciencia, 5(1), 34–49. https://institutojubones.edu.ec/ojs/index.php/portal/article/view/426
Poiraud, C. (2019). Equality, recognition and social justice: A Hegelian perspective announcing Amartya Sen. Œconomia, 9(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.4000/oeconomia.5178
Rojas-Fernández, V., Altamirano-Benítez, V., & Moreira-Aguirre, D. G. (2022). Treatment of gender violence in digital newspapers of the Andean region. In Á. Rocha, D. Barredo, P. C. López-López, & I. Puentes-Rivera (Eds.), Communication and smart technologies. ICOMTA 2021. Smart innovation, systems and technologies (Vol. 259, pp. 619–632). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5792-4_53
Roggeband, C. (2016). Ending violence against women in Latin America: Feminist norm setting in a multilevel context. Politics & Gender, 12(1), 143–167. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743923X15000604
Salinas Garza, J. A., Rodríguez Lozano, L. G., & García Monroy, M. (2023). Perspectiva de género. Revista Jurídica Mario Alario D´Filippo, 15(30), 326–339. https://doi.org/10.32997/2256-2796-vol.15-num.30-2023-4252
Thulin, E. J., Lustig, A., Perrotte, V., Lwabanya, M., & Evans, T. (2020). Male and female perceptions and experiences of sexual and gender-based violence in South Kivu, Eastern DRC. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(11–12), NP9469–NP9495. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520983301 (Trabajo original publicado en 2022)
Villalonga-Aragón, M., Martí-Vilar, M., Merino-Soto, C., & Tantalean-Terrones, L. (2023). A scoping review of educational interventions to increase prosociality against gender-based violence in university bystanders. Social Sciences, 12(7), 406. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12070406
Wirtz, A. L., Poteat, T. C., Malik, M., & Glass, N. (2018). Gender-based violence against transgender people in the United States: A call for research and programming. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 21(2), 227–241. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838018757749
Zinyemba, K. G., & Hlongwana, K. (2022). Men’s conceptualization of gender-based violence directed to women in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg, South Africa. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 14616. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14616-5
Published
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The journal is licensed under the Attribution License (CC BY), allowing the possibility of copying, distributing, displaying, and producing derivative works, as long as the author is acknowledged and cited.







