Archive of stories and materials on GBV
Gender-based violence (GBV) is violence rooted in gender bias and stereotypes and disproportionately harms women. The source of this phenomenon is misogyny: contempt for and hatred of women for who they are. Patriarchal society continues to normalize it, treating women as inferior to men and stripping them of their voice and dignity. Gender-based violence is a violation of human rights.
A perpetrator can be anyone: a partner, a relative, a colleague, a friend, a teacher, a doctor, or a stranger. Gender-based violence can occur both at home and in public spaces. It can take the following forms:
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sexual (rape, harassment, exploitation)
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physical (beating, pushing, restricting movement)
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economic (taking away money, forbidding employment)
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psychological (manipulation, insults, control)
Gender-based violence can also affect lesbians* (cisgender and transgender women), as well as non-binary and intersex people who identify as lesbian, bisexual, or queer. In these cases, misogyny is compounded by queerphobia, or hatred toward queer people. Perpetrators may seek to “correct” their sexual orientation, coerce them into heterosexuality, deny them employment, housing, or medical care, insult them, physically assault them, or manipulate them in various ways by exploiting their vulnerability.
No one is immune to gender-based violence. It cannot be prevented by “proper” clothing or behavior, nor by being careful in choosing a partner, social circle, or professional. Therefore, it is crucial to remember one thing above all: the perpetrator is always the only one at fault.
Gender-based violence thrives on silence. Silence allows perpetrators to remain unpunished and keeps the issue itself taboo, shrouded in shame and fear.
That is why we created this website: to give survivors a voice, break the silence, and spread knowledge among all women and queer people. Here you will find real stories of survivors of gender-based violence, as well as informative articles to help build awareness and share knowledge with others.
This is a living archive created by the civil society organization Bilkis*. This queer feminist organization promotes knowledge about women’s rights and LBTQIA+ rights to counter patriarchal and homo-/transphobic narratives in Ukrainian society. Since 2019, we have participated annually in the international campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.” This archive brings together materials from all previous campaigns, and we continue to add new stories and articles.
*The name Bilkis uses an adapted English spelling based on its Ukrainian form. The organization has consciously chosen this spelling as part of its efforts to reclaim and redefine the name independently of its source.