Addressing Intimate Partner Violence Globally: Women’s Economic Empowerment as a Comprehensive Tool for Prevention and Response

Publication Date

1-1-2026

Document Type

Contribution to a Book

Publication Title

Using Womens Economic Empowerment to Combat Intimate Partner Violence

DOI

10.4324/9781003659532-1

First Page

1

Last Page

3

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a pervasive global epidemic with devastating consequences for women, families, and societies. Rooted in systemic inequalities, cultural norms, and entrenched power imbalances, IPV undermines social cohesion, perpetuates cycles of trauma, and hinders economic development. This chapter introduces the book’s central focus: the transformative role of women’s empowerment—economic, social, and political—in addressing and ultimately dismantling IPV. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from law, sociology, psychology, and public health, the chapter frames IPV not as a private issue but as a public health crisis and a human rights concern that requires collective, multifaceted solutions. It highlights the limitations of isolated interventions and underscores the need for integrated strategies that combine economic independence with supportive networks, legal protections, and cultural change. By critically examining both effective practices and the shortcomings of interventions—such as the unintended risks of microfinance—this chapter provides a roadmap for sustainable solutions. Positioned as both a call to action and a guide, it challenges policymakers, practitioners, and scholars to reimagine empowerment as a holistic process and to work collaboratively toward building a safer, more equitable world free from IPV.

Department

Social Work

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