Insecurity

Discover how violent insecurity exacerbates existing persecution related to gender.

The 2024 Persecution and Gender Report

INSECURITY

Discover how war and political turmoil
increases persecution for Christian women.

The 2024 Gender Specific Religious Persecution (GSRP) Report is the research into the intersection of gender and Christian persecution in the world’s most persecuted countries.

The Report explores how men and women experience persecution differently, and how this systematically wreaks havoc on the Christian family and community as a whole.

Persecutors exploit socio-cultural norms and values, often embedded within or facilitated by the legal system, to pressurize Christian men and women and, ultimately, weaken the Christian community.

In this 2022 video, Helene and Elizabeth, gender-specific religious persecution specialists, discuss the realities of gendered persecution.

Persecution and Gender at a glance

Top 5 Persecution Pressure points against men

1. Physical violence

2. Psychological violence

3. Imprisonment

4. Economic Harassment

5. Forced military service

Top 5 Persecution Pressure points against women

1. Forced marriage

2. Sexual violence

3. Physical violence

4. Psychological violence

5. Abduction

Persecution and Gender at a glance

Top 5 Persecution Pressure points against men

1. Physical violence

2. Psychological violence

3. Imprisonment

4. Economic Harassment

5. Forced military service

Top 5 Persecution Pressure points against women

1. Forced marriage

2. Sexual violence

3. Physical violence

4. Psychological violence

5. Abduction

Key findings in the 2024 report

Violent insecurity leaves an indelible imprint on societies for decades.

Even when violence formally ceases, men and women of marginalized religious communities still face compounding challenges. This can include the legacies of trauma, the challenges of forced displacement settings and continued marginalization when societies restructure, all of which can be impacted by religion and gender.

Insecure contexts and associated violence compound existing vulnerabilities, exacerbating certain forms of gender-specific religious persecution.

Violence acts as a spark that exposes and exacerbates pre-existing vulnerabilities. Accordingly, in contexts where violence is high, faith-related sexual violence for women and physical violence for men, including lethal violence, are more common. Insecurity can incite new forms of violence as well as exacerbate everyday violence, such as intimate partner violence (IPV).

Marginalized Christians, especially women, can be particularly vulnerable in insecure contexts, such as settings of conflict, forced displacement and criminal violence.

There is no single experience of being a religious minority. Many factors impact a person’s experience: their geographical location, political views, gender, age and health needs. By and large, however, it is those already vulnerable who become more at risk when violence escalates. Women belonging to religious minorities are often one such group.

Local faith actors are uniquely placed to respond to gender- and religious-specific needs.

LFAs are often the first responders in times of crisis. They are trusted by and often have easy access to impacted communities. They are uniquely equipped to understand the needs of religious minorities, including their psychological and spiritual needs. Increasingly, they are working towards gender-sensitive approaches.

Insecurity

Discover how violent insecurity exacerbates existing persecution related to gender.

The 2024 Persecution and Gender Report

INSECURITY

Persecution and Gender at a glance

Persecution and Gender at a glance

1. Physical violence

2. Psychological violence

3. Imprisonment

4. Economic Harassment

5. Forced military service

1. Forced marriage

2. Sexual violence

3. Physical violence

4. Psychological violence

5. Abduction

Persecution and Gender at a glance

1. Physical violence

2. Psychological violence

3. Imprisonment

4. Economic Harassment

5. Forced military service

1. Forced marriage

2. Sexual violence

3. Physical violence

4. Psychological violence

5. Abduction

Key findings in the 2024 report

Violent insecurity leaves an indelible imprint on societies for decades.

Insecure contexts and associated violence compound existing vulnerabilities, exacerbating certain forms of gender-specific religious persecution.

Marginalized Christians, especially women, can be particularly vulnerable in insecure contexts, such as settings of conflict, forced displacement and criminal violence.

Local faith actors are uniquely placed to respond to gender- and religious-specific needs.

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