The Senior Gender Officer for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at the Mongolia Resident Mission, G.Saranzaya discussed the main factors influencing gender-based violence in Mongolia and how to prevent it. The organization has also studied the types of violence to which Mongolian men are most commonly subjected to.
Could you explain to our readers what gender-based violence is? Does domestic violence fall under this category?
Gender-based violence is a broad concept. Depending on your gender, you may be more exposed to certain types of violence. Domestic violence is part of this. Other forms include human trafficking, sexual exploitation, workplace sexual harassment, and violence against children, among others. Globally, studies show that one in three women experiences some form of violence.
What is the main cause of this type of violence?
The imbalance of power. The more powerful someone is in terms of strength, authority, social position, and privileges, the more likely they are to commit violence. Violence is not only physical but can also manifest in sexual, economic, and emotional forms. The root cause of this type of violence stems from patriarchy, which gives men more advantages over women. About 90 percent of the victims of gender-based violence are women. Patriarchy dictates that only women are responsible for raising children and cooking, imposing unavoidable roles on them. This leads to children becoming victims of violence, often without realizing it, and carrying the trauma throughout their lives. Children who grow up witnessing their mothers being abused are highly likely to become perpetrators of violence when they reach adulthood. This is a major reason why violence is repeated from generation to generation.
Can you share about the main objectives of gender-based violence research and which organizations have collaborated on this, as well as when the research began?
The key factor in achieving gender equality is creating a violence-free society. Over the past decade, several international organizations have carried out projects and programs to address this issue, focusing on implementing the Law to Combat Domestic Violence. ADB realized the necessity of conducting research targeting men and involving them in the process. In 2017, the UNFPA conducted a study titled “The Naked Truth,” which focused on the experiences of women. The study revealed that one in three women experiences violence, and one in two women suffers from sexual harassment—shocking results indeed. Based on this, it was necessary to investigate why 90 percent of violence is committed by men and what the underlying causes and triggers of this behavior are. Of course, there are many assumptions about this both internationally and in our country. However, in Mongolia, this is the first time research on this topic has focused exclusively on men.
Nine areas were selected from across the country, covering rural areas as well, and 400 men participated in the survey. Given that Mongolia has a population of 3.5 million, the methodology suggests that the results from 400 or even 4,000 men would likely be similar. The survey was conducted with men aged 18 to 60, from rural and urban areas, using a random sampling method. The research was based on household data. It addressed several sensitive topics, and it was a groundbreaking study in Mongolia. When conducting the interviews, a single participant was interviewed for about 30 minutes, with some sensitive issues discussed using images and stickers as part of the approach. It included many questions and was carried out in cooperation with the “IRIM” research organization, with international consultant Emma Fulu being involved. The research spanned over a year, and the final results are expected to be presented to the public in March.
The survey found that 74 percent of men in our country experienced some form of violence in their childhood. This is quite striking. Could you please elaborate on this?
The survey results show that the majority of men experience psychological stress starting from their childhood. This is linked to the dominance of patriarchal norms. From an early age, children are taught gender stereotypes, such as the idea that men must be strong, financially independent, provide for their families, and not cry. Similarly, women are taught that they should remain pure, take care of their husbands, children, and household chores. This has led to a significant amount of pressure on men. They suffer but are unable to express their difficulties and often carry inner pain. Additionally, young men face serious mental health issues. Globally, about five percent of men suffer from depression, but in Mongolia, this rate is three times higher, at 17.2 percent. Depression usually begins between the ages of 15 and 20. Moreover, 74 percent of the participants in the survey reported experiencing some form of violence during their childhood. For instance, children who witness their mothers being abused are three times more likely to become perpetrators of violence later in life. Moreover, 19 percent of participants experienced sexual violence during their childhood. Children who are victims of such violence are five times more likely to commit violence as adults. This was also confirmed by qualitative research.
It also showed that women’s exposure to domestic violence varies according to the seasons. What causes this?
This survey was conducted after last year’s zud. We found that 41 percent of men reported experiencing stress due to climate change, which is a significant number. Qualitative research showed that after the zud, local male herders’ mental health was in a state of shock. As a result, not knowing how to manage their stress, they end up taking it out on their wives and committing violence. In other words, intimate partner violence increased. While this is not the root or the main cause, it is a contributing factor.
It is said that violence stems from distorted social relations and a lack of gender equality. If that is the case, then it may not be possible to address this issue solely through legal frameworks, correct?
Our country has made significant progress in ensuring gender equality over the past 20-30 years. In 2011, a special law was passed that even defined the term “gender”. In addition, the Law on Combating Domestic Violence was revised in 2016 and 2017, and human trafficking and domestic violence were criminalized. Efforts to combat gender-based violence have been steadily advancing. We also now have a National Gender Committee. However, simply focusing on domestic violence and improving the legal and regulatory environment will not be enough to eliminate it. It requires the involvement of all sectors. For example, the economic sector must focus on strengthening capacity, and other sectors like education, tourism, and culture must also pay attention to this issue and develop policies. Gender policies are now integrated into the work of 16 ministries and 14 agencies. Despite this, the involvement of individuals and international organizations is crucial to stopping gender-based violence.
As a whole, international and national strategies and programs aimed at combating gender-based violence do not seem to be very effective. Do you think this is due to a lack of response measures, or does the issue require a broader, more multifaceted approach?
It is more cost-effective to focus on prevention rather than simply responding. Moreover, without developing and implementing strategies to stop violence from passing from generation to generation, the situation will not improve. Although response measures, such as providing temporary shelters for victims, have been implemented, there is a shortage of social workers and psychologists who can work with victims for the long term. In other words, we face a shortage of professionals, which undermines the effectiveness of temporary shelter services. As a result, victims lose trust in the service providers in their district. Therefore, this issue needs to be addressed not only by the government but also by citizens and all sectors. Only by doing this can we prevent violence.
What measures should be taken to stop violence?
First and foremost, it is crucial to find ways to prevent violence. In our country, there are laws holding perpetrators accountable and shelters for victims of violence. National capacity for response has improved overall. But, if we do not focus on prevention, the economic cost will be immense. Right now, starting from the number of shelters for domestic violence victims, there are significant expenses. Just the operational costs of the shelters and providing food create a lot of challenges. Of course, providing services once will not lead to meaningful results. Victims require ongoing support throughout their lives. However, considering the national capacity and current workload, it is clear that there is an urgent need to focus on working with men.
How can we prevent violence?
Our international consultant for the research identified effective preventive measures against gender-based violence. For instance, strengthening women’s economic empowerment is an effective way to prevent gender-based violence. Providing training to vulnerable groups who are at risk of violence, to strengthen their economic capacity, has been found to be very effective. This isn’t just about giving out cash; it involves teaching how to support household income through various activities. When women gain economic independence, they can increase their household income in ways they choose, thus preventing violence. This is a significant preventive measure to stop violence, such as neglecting or abusing children.
Secondly, there is a need to implement violence prevention programs for young children through preschool education and schools. It should not just be about talking about violence, but also teaching what healthy relationships are. Furthermore, through health education, couples should be provided with clear and specific information about safe sexual relationships. This is part of comprehensive sex education programs. Our country developed such a program back in 2018. Unfortunately, it has not been delivered effectively or accessibly. To prevent violence at the national level, it is necessary to allocate specific budgets to each sector to determine what they should be doing. Without a budget, it will be impossible to implement such programs. Therefore, it is important to secure funding from the national budget for these initiatives.
By D.CHANTSALMAA
