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Can Safety Nets Reduce Gender-Based Violence? How?

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  • Heinemann,Alessandra
  • Rawal,Palak

Abstract

A growing body of evidence finds that cash transfers reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) in various contexts, even when the cash transfer was not designed to do so. The effects are comparable with standalone violence-prevention interventions and consistent with various forms of IPV (physical, emotional, controlling behavior). Researchers hypothesize that safety nets curb gender-based violence (GBV) via three impact pathways: by reducing poverty and food insecurity, empowering women, and increasing women’s social capital. Average results mask heterogeneity: some groups of women are at higher risk of GBV than others. For example, women whose partners have low levels of education and abuse alcohol tend to be at greater risk of GBV. Evidence also suggests that, when cash transfers are combined with group-based accompanying measures, they are more likely to reduce IPV, even if GBV prevention is not an explicit objective of the accompanying measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Heinemann,Alessandra & Rawal,Palak, 2024. "Can Safety Nets Reduce Gender-Based Violence? How?," Social Protection Discussion Papers and Notes 191206, The World Bank.
  • Handle: RePEc:wbk:hdnspu:191206
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Victoria Baranov & Lisa Cameron & Diana Contreras Suarez & Claire Thibout, 2021. "Theoretical Underpinnings and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Cash Transfers on Intimate Partner Violence in Low- and Middle-Income Countries," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(1), pages 1-25, January.
    6. Melissa Hidrobo & Amber Peterman & Lori Heise, 2016. "The Effect of Cash, Vouchers, and Food Transfers on Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment in Northern Ecuador," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 8(3), pages 284-303, July.
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