Response to gender based violence in the COVID-19 context in Nepal Format GBV IN THE COVID-19 CONTEXT Disease outbreaks affect women and men differently, and epidemics make existing inequalities for women and girls, and discrimination of other marginalized groups such as persons with disabilities and those in extreme poverty, worse. Furthermore, crises and times of unrest have been linked to increased incidence of violence against women and children, and the COVID-19 pandemic is not an exception. In a pandemic, women and girls may be at higher risk of intimate partner violence and other forms of domestic violence and also face increased risks of other forms of GBV, including sexual exploitation and abuse.