Gender-Based Violence and COVID-19 in Fragile Settings: A Syndemic Model

July 8, 2025

Luissa Vahedi, Jessica Anania, Jocelyn Kelly

Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the preexisting epidemic of gender-based violence. In turn, gender-based violence can directly and indirectly contribute to COVID-19 vulnerability and community transmission.
Gender-insensitive COVID-19 policy responses have reinforced this negatively synergistic relationship, reducing the effectiveness of disease control measures and contributing to gender inequality in fragile settings, which are already characterized by conflict, poverty, displacement, and weak infrastructure.
This syndemic relationship is explored through three key avenues: constrained access to health and social services, the militarization of movement, and reduced socioeconomic status.
To interrupt the negative synergistic interaction of gender-based violence and COVID-19 in fragile settings, policymakers must implement responses targeting the gendered consequences of disease control measures.
Understanding the mutually reinforcing interactions of gender-based violence and COVID-19 can help practitioners and policymakers better address the interaction between gender-based violence and infectious disease in other existing or emergent infectious disease outbreaks.

Citation

Vahedi, Luissa, Jessica Anania, and Jocelyn Kelly. “Gender-Based Violence and COVID-19 in Fragile Settings: A Syndemic Model.” Special Report. SPECIAL REPORT. United States Institute of Peace, August 2021.