Behind Closed Doors: Domestic Violence And Abuse During Covid-19

The global Covid-19 pandemic has proven that no part of our lives is immune to its destructive forces. We seek protection in the four walls of our homes. However, some homes are not safe. Indeed, recent reports suggest that domestic violence against women have been on the increase since lockdown began.

As the UN warns, in France, reports of domestic violence have increased by 30% since the lockdown was imposed in March 2020. In Cyprus and Singapore, helplines have registered an increase in calls by 30% and 33% respectively. In Argentina, such calls increased by 25% since the lockdown began in March 2020. Similarly, Canada, Germany, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S. recorded an increase in cases of domestic violence and demand for emergency shelter. In Australia, a Women’s Safety New South Wales survey revealed a 40% increase in requests for help by survivors. These statistics paint a worsening picture of lockdown for women.

At the same time, another problem associated with lockdown has emerged – that in many cases, the abused women would not feel that they were in a position to report the abuse while they were locked in the house with the perpetrator. For example, a domestic violence helpline in Italy reported receiving “55% fewer calls in the first two weeks in March because many women found it difficult to ask for help during the lockdown. A similar drop in calls was reported by a women’s shelter network in the north of France.”

The issue of domestic violence and abuse of women, exacerbated by Covid-19, requires an urgent response. Some states have been taking extra steps to address these issues. For example, in Canada, domestic violence shelters remained open during the lockdown. In Italy, prosecutors have ruled that in cases of domestic abuse, the perpetrators and not the victims were to leave their homes. In France, where shelters exceed their capacity, survivors were to be provided with alternative accommodation in hotels. Australia, France and the U.K. have allocated additional funding to support women suffering from domestic abuse.

In other places, innovative solutions have been trialed to respond to the surge in numbers and conditions which accommodate silence. For example, in Cumbria, the U.K., postal workers and delivery drivers were briefed to look out for signs of abuse. In the Canary Islands, Spain, women could alert pharmacies about domestic violence with a code message “Mask-19”, the idea being that pharmacies can then alert the police. Such approaches could be adopted in other places too to make sure that women, whom lockdown may protect from contracting Covid-19, are not exposed to domestic violence and have a safe option to report it.

However, it is also important to remember that domestic violence is an issue that pre-dates Covid-19. Unfortunately, it will continue even if we find a solution to Covid-19. The UN recently reported that 1 in 3 women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most frequently at the hands of an intimate partner. 1 in 2 women killed worldwide in 2017 were killed by their partners or family.

The Covid-19 related lockdown exacerbated the issue of domestic violence that affects every country around the world, and despite attempts, is far from being addressed. Despite these failures, we cannot accept domestic violence as a normal part of our lives. Domestic violence is not normal. Domestic violence is a crime that must be reported, investigated and prosecuted. No excuse.