In East Asia, China has experienced some challenges in gender based violence.  The most forms of gender based violence that are prevalent include domestic violence that is caused by intimate partners, sexual violence which in this case takes into account the rape cases (forced sexual intercourse for girls and boys), child, early and forced marriages, violence against women and girls and lastly trafficking (UN WOMEN, GLOBAL DATA BASE ON VIOLENCE AGANIST WOMEN 2020). 

 

 In Central Asia, (UN WOMEN 2020) Kazakhstan, has recorded a high level of violence against women due to traditional patriarchal norms and stereotypes which pose a great obstacle to gender equality. Therefore, causing gender inequalities and hindering women empowerment and access to opportunities to girls and women. A survey done by Un Women shows that 17 per cent of ever partnered women have experienced physical or sexual partner violence and 21 per cent physical abuse (UN WOMEN, SAMPLE SURVEY ON VIOLENCE AGANIST WOMEN IN KAZAKHSTAN 2017).

 

One of the main impacts of gender based violence in East and Central Asia as evident in journals, articles and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) is psychological disorders, mental health illness, deaths like homicide and suicide and intentional killings. 

​

Sexual violence which is a form of gender based violence is prevalent in most Central and East Asia countries. The most common perpetrators of physical and sexual violence were male family members, male strangers and male colleagues.

 

In Uzbekistan, there is no official data on gender based violence especially domestic violence which is very common in the country. A study was conducted by (ACTED 2020) shows that domestic violence in Uzbekistan takes in different forms i.e. physical, psycho-emotional, economic, and sexual, cyber, harassment and stalking. Gender based violence globally has seen a 38% of female homicide victims are killed by their male partners. 

​

In East and Central Asia, the challenges that pose a threat to gender based violence include absence of national legislation, gender stereotypes, absence of legislation in protecting victims of GBV, exclusion of women in CSOs and decision making processes, lack of support for women at risk and survivors of GBV, lack of legal protection to survivors of domestic violence and cultural norms and traditions that gender based violence is a private matter for women. 

​

Almost all the countries in East and Central Asia have insufficient policies related to women’s rights. However, women rights are still perceived to be unrelated to the country’s economic objectives, despite the high economic costs of missed work and healthcare for victims. As a result, most women remain vulnerable to gender based violence particularly domestic violence, are excluded from decision-making processes both locally and at the national level, which contributes to social and economic disadvantages for these women, and the countries as a whole.