Short definitions for terms used in our research pages and knowledge base. Each entry names the source so you can verify wording in the original material.
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Showing 18 of 18 terms in this view.
Any person who belongs to a group within society that is either oppressed or more susceptible to come to harm.
Set of prejudicial and discriminatory beliefs and behaviours that devalues people living with developmental, emotional, physical, or mental disabilitie
Termination of pregnancy due to the process started spontaneously (spontaneous abortion) or a deliberate termination of an unintended pregnancy, or a pregnancy that threatens the life or health of the pregnant woman, including her social and mental well-being (induced abortion).
is the misuse of power through which the perpetrator gains control
or advantage of the abused, using and causing physical or psychological
harm or inciting fear of that harm. Abuse prevents persons from making
free decisions and forces them to behave against their will
- Mistreatment, whether physical, sexual, emotional, economic or in combination, that is reasonably likely to
cause death or that causes or is reasonably likely to cause serious physical or psychological harm to a person,
or significant loss to the person's property (The Protection for Persons in Care Act, 2009). As for violence, the
definition used by the World Health Organization associates intentionality with the committing of the act itself,
irrespective of the outcome it produces. Excluded from the definition are unintentional incidents – such as most
road traffic injuries and burns. (WHO, 2002-a)
- The terms “Abuse” and “Violence” are often used synonymously, yet it was agreed in the discussion sessions to use
the word abuse to refer to the broader concept of maltreatment (including violence, neglect, exploitation, assault…).
An individual who is abused by their intimate partner. Used interchangeably with survivor, victimized parent, and adult victim. Many advocates prefer the term “survivor,” or the fact that a person has “lived experience” of abuse, since these reflect the reality that many abused individuals cope and move on with personal strength, resourcefulness, and determination.
Refers to a role taken on by activists who contributed positively to anti-oppression work but are not personally or directly impacted by that form of oppression. This term is often used as a contrast (or complement) to the term “ally.” [1]
“For social justice advocates who use the term accomplice, they often see the site of focus as the main difference between the work of an ally and that of an accomplice. An ally will mostly engage in activism by standing with an individual or group in a marginalized community. An accomplice will focus more on dismantling the structures that oppress that individual or group—and such work will be directed by the stakeholders in the marginalized group. Simply, ally work focuses on individuals, and accomplice work focuses on the structures of decision-making agency.”
Relational accountability refers to the “power of relationships, connections, and human interactions to help reduce domestic violence and support positive change.” [1]
Systemic Accountability “focuses on accountability within and across systems to support domestic violence offenders in reducing or eliminating their use of violence and other forms of coercive control….”
this occurs at the end of the trial once both the state and the defence have both had a chance to present
their cases and a judgement is passed that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has been charged.
Acquittals also occur when the state has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt or other circumstances lead
to the case being discharged after trial has started
Adolescence is the stage between childhood and adulthood, typically ages 10-19. During this time, young people experience physical changes (like puberty), emotional growth, and a stronger need for identity and independence.
Adolescence is also a time when many young people first experience relationship pressure, sexual harassment, grooming, or dating abuse, especially when adults or older partners take advantage of power gaps. Culture, family expectations, and access to support services can shape what adolescence looks like.
Sexual contact by a person (male or female) with someone other than his/her spouse. This is punished, in
Lebanon, by imprisonment and is considered a reason to dissolve the marriage.
A combination of individual and social actions designed to gain political commitment, policy support, social
acceptance and systems support for a particular health goal or programme. Such action may be taken by
and/or on behalf of individuals and groups to create living conditions which are conducive to health and the
achievement of healthy lifestyles. Advocacy is one of the three major strategies for health promotion and can
take many forms including the use of the mass media and multi-media, direct political lobbying, and community
mobilization through, for example, coalitions of interest around defined issues (WHO, 1995).
Agency is an “individual’s (or group’s) ability to make effective choices and to transform those choices into desired outcomes.” [1]
“Across all countries women and men differ in their ability to make effective choices in a range of spheres, with women at a disadvantage. Thus, agency is key to understanding how gender outcomes emerge and why they are equal or unequal. Expressions of agency include control over resources, ability to move freely, decision making over family formation, freedom from the risk of violence, and the ability to have a voice in society and influence policy. Social norms shape women’s agency.
- A person, group, or institution that directly inflicts, supports and condones violence or other abuse against a
person or a group of persons. Perpetrators are in a position of real or perceived power, decision-making and/or
authority and can thus exert control over their victims (UNHCR, 2003).
- Aggressor, perpetrator, and offender are words used to provide the same meaning.
An ally is someone who actively supports people who experience discrimination, inequality, or violence. In the fight against GBVF, being an ally means more than “posting”; it means learning, speaking up, and taking action that protects survivors and challenges harmful behaviour.
Allies also understand that survivors lead their own healing and make their own choices. An ally listens without judgment, believes survivors, and supports them in accessing help.
Examples: Calling out rape jokes, challenging victim-blaming, helping a friend safety-plan, walking someone to their taxi at night, or reporting harassment at work/school when it’s safe to do so.
A natural and a necessary warning adaptation response in humans. Anxiety can become a pathologic disorder
when it is excessive and uncontrollable, requires no specific external stimulus, and manifests with a wide range
of physical and affective symptoms as well as changes in behavior and cognition (American Psychiatric
Association, DSM 4, 2000).
in a criminal prosecution, an appearance is the initial court proceeding in which an accused person is fi rst
brought before a magistrate.
the filtering process by which cases drop out of the criminal justice system.