Troubling Insights from Asia About the Durability of Gender-Based Violence

Below is an excerpt from an article first published by World Politics Review covering the Foundation’s just-launched book, The State of Conflict and Violence in Asia.

Some experts are beginning to view violence against women, whether at home or work or in the public space, as a form of internal conflict that must be included in serious assessments of the trends in overall violence and instability. Last week, The Asia Foundation—where I am a trustee emerita—released a major study looking at violence and conflict in 14 Asian countries where the foundation has field operations to promote good governance, economic reforms and peace. The study carefully collected and collated data on different forms of violence, drawing from government and international organizational data and diverse studies by independent experts. It presents its summary findings in eight categories, from national and transnational—civil war, national political conflict, transnational terrorism; to subnational—separatism, communal conflicts; and local, including urban crime and violence. But the authors conclude that gender-based violence has to be treated separately, at least until more comprehensive data is available.

Used with the permission of World Politics Review, www.worldpoliticsreview.com.

Ellen Laipson directs the International Security Program at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government. She led the Stimson Center from 2002 to 2015, and served on the board of trustees of The Asia Foundation from 2003 to 2015. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and not those of The Asia Foundation or its funders.