The costs of gender-based violence in the context of Colombia's post-conflict

According to the World Health Organization (2017), one-third of women worldwide have experienced at least one form of gender-based violence in their lifetimes. In Colombia, 49,712 cases of domestic violence and 15,082 cases of sexual violence were reported in 2016 alone. However, it is important to note that less than 30% of gender-based violence incidents are reported in Colombia.

This project is implemented in collaboration with the Fundación para la Educación Superior y el Desarrollo, a Colombia-based non-profit socioeconomic research organization. It aims to add value to national efforts by the Truth Commission, among other local actors, to understand and increase visibility of the prevalence and diverse kinds of sexual and gender-based violence.

Using big data (open-source content, discussion blogs, and social media messages), this project seeks to capture and understand the perceptions and experiences of gender-based violence directly from citizens and inform the development of more responsive socio-economic programming. The research will also unearth some of the impacts of this violence (e.g. impacts on labour productivity, voice, agency) and further promote comprehensive policy efforts against gender-based violence.