Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence. In the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. It is very common. In the vast majority of cases it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men.
Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:
Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
Psychological and/or emotional abuse
Physical or sexual abuse
Financial or economic abuse
Harassment and stalking
Online or digital abuse
Gender-based violence (GBV) refers to any act done to someone against their will as a result of gender inequality. GBV is largely, although not exclusively, perpetrated by men and experienced by women. It is acknowledged that, although GBV mostly affects women, it can and does also affect individuals of any age, gender, sexual orientation, faith or ethnicity.