Social norms and security and justice services for gender-based violence survivors in Nepal: Programmatic implications from a mixed-methods assessment.
Outcomes: Child, Early, and Forced Marriage, Gender‑Based Violence
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways Social norms strongly discourage formal help-seeking for gender-based violence (GBV) in Nepal by prioritizing family honor, privacy, and community harmony over individual safety. Injunctive norms enforce silence through social sanctions (e.g., shame, ostracism), while gender norms position men and elders as decision-makers and women as subordinate, limiting women’s agency to report violence. Even when formal services are viewed positively, norms favor mediation within families and communities, making anticipated social repercussions—not attitudes toward services—the primary barrier to reporting.
Objectives This study aimed to examine the intersection of GBV-related social norms, help-seeking behaviors, and the accessibility and perceptions of security and justice (S&J) services in Nepal, addressing a gap in understanding how demand- and supply-side factors interact.
Methods The study used a mixed-methods design combining a large household survey (N=3,830), sub-studies with youth and adults, and qualitative data from interviews and focus groups with survivors, families, and S&J providers. Quantitative analysis relied on descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed using modified grounded theory. Social norms were explicitly measured using both descriptive norms (perceptions of GBV prevalence) and injunctive norms (perceptions of community approval), including adapted scales such as the Partner Violence Norms scale, along with vignette-based and SNAP-informed qualitative tools to assess norms, reference groups, and sanctions.
Results GBV was widely perceived as common (e.g., child marriage, domestic violence), yet formal help-seeking was extremely low, with most survivors disclosing to no one. While participants generally expressed trust in police and other S&J providers, injunctive norms discouraged reporting and reinforced expectations to resolve violence within families and communities. Social sanctions—such as shame, blame, and ostracism—were widely anticipated for women who report violence. Gender norms, including expectations of female obedience and male authority, alongside structural barriers (e.g., access, discrimination), further constrained help-seeking.
Conclusions Social norms—particularly those related to honor, gender roles, and community mediation—emerge as the dominant barrier to formal GBV help-seeking, outweighing generally positive perceptions of S&J services. Addressing GBV effectively requires integrated approaches that shift harmful norms while strengthening accessible, gender-responsive services and reducing the social risks associated with reporting.
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