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United Nations Association of Australia 

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United Nations Association of Australia 

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The UN provides insight into the global 'shadow pandemic' amid COVID-19 lock-downs

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The global response to COVID-19 has seen varying degrees of lockdown and enforced isolation laws put in place by governments everywhere. However, while stay-at-home measures are safe for some, others could be at a higher risk of harm or, in extreme cases, being killed by a partner or family member. This article describes the heightened risk for women and girls in their homes during COVID-19 and provides advice policymakers can use to include women's perspectives in decision making to ensure the protection of human rights.
Background of violence against women and girls on pandemic times.
The 'Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action' states that one of the main obstacles to achieve the objectives of equality, development and peace is gender-based violence (GBV), which violates and impairs the enjoyment of women's human rights and fundamental freedoms. The vulnerability of those rights is worrying and must be addressed by all countries (UN Women, 2014, p.76).

In pandemic times, violence against women and girls increase significantly, especially when lockdown measures come into place to preserve the health of the population and prevent the spread of the outbreaks. Human Rights Watch (HRW) (2020) states, "Outbreaks of disease often have gendered impacts". For example, the Ebola virus disease outbreak (2014) and the Zika virus (2015-2016) had particularly harmful impacts on women and girls and reinforced longstanding gender inequity (HRW, March 19, 2020).

Furthermore, certain vulnerabilities including biological, psychological or socio-cultural factors can exacerbate the effects of violence towards woman. Vulnerable groups include: girls, elderly, disabled, minority groups, indigenous, refugees, migrants, displaced, repatriated, rural or remote communities and women in conflict or civil wars (UN Women, 2014 p. 77).

Additional issues that can exacerbate the violence against women and girls are related to economic and social factors of the pandemic. As the United Nations Population Fund points out, "The economic effects of the Ebola outbreak led to exacerbated sexual exploitation risks for women and children" (UNPF, 2020). Aoláin argues that "the combination of pre-existing biological and socio-cultural factors means that while the health status of populations as a whole deteriorates during complex humanitarian crisis, women and children are especially vulnerable" (Aoláin, 2011 p.8). This was certainly the case during the Ebola outbreak, during which the violations of the fundamental rights of women that had the highest number of reports were sexual violence, domestic violence and aggression outside their communities (IRC, 2019 p.6).

Regarding global impact of the new virus, Human Rights Watch suggest that current reports indicate similar trends seen in Ebola and Zika (HRW 2020). In China for example, HRW argues that quarantine measures in China during the COVID-19 outbreak led to a rise in domestic violence, linked with lockdowns stress, cramped and difficult living conditions, or breakdowns in community support mechanisms. Women are simply unable to get away from abuse under lock-down conditions and unable to access services, especially when the perpetrator is at the same place.

The full impact on GBV during this crises is currently not known. Fraser (2020), suggests that in relation with violence against women, we can't totally appreciate the full effects of GBV during pandemics. The four limitations are:

1. limited data on changes in level of violence;

2. lack of disaggregated data of vulnerable groups and gender (adolescent, older, refugee/migrant and disabled women)

3. limited research on how outbreaks can exacerbate different forms of violence

4. few documented examples of good practice in preventing and responding to GBV during an outbreak (p.5).

Gender-based violence in Australia.
Gender-based violence is more frequent than we think and the place of greatest occurrence is the victim´s home. According to the Women Health Organization (WHO), "As many as 70 per cent of women worldwide have experienced intimate partner physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetimes" (WHO, 2013). Stott states that "women usually experience violence and abuse at the hands of a men they know, often in their own homes, often repeatedly, and somethings over many years, if not a lifetime" (Stott, 2019 p.28).

In the Australian case, the federal government in 2015 declared violence against women as a national crisis. Based on the data reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in 2016, a third of all Australian women were assaulted physically. Moreover, a fifth of all women had experienced sexual harassment in the previous year (Piper & Stevenson, 2019). In relation to family and domestic violence (FDV), Piper and Stevenson emphasise that one women was murdered by an intimate partner each week in Australia and a third of all cases of homelessness are associated with violence within the family. According to ABS, two out of five assaults were FDV related, including serious assault resulting in injury and the majority of victims were women. The majority of perpetrators were intimate partners and the most common location was the home (ABS, 2018). A graphic representation of ABS findings can be seen in the Figure 1 below.

Figure 1: Family and Domestic Violence- Related Crimes 2018

Note: The figure describes the data of Family and Domestic Violence related to Sexual Assault, Assault and Homicide on female gender in 2018 (ABS 2018).

Aboriginal communities have been found particularly vulnerable to FDV with higher frequency and severity. Additionally, some studies indicate a huge percentage of cases are unknown because survivors did not disclose them. In Queensland for example, an estimated 90% of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander are unreported. The violence against women and girls has become normalised in indigenous communities and they tend to downplay the severity of the situation even when reporting it ( Special Taskforce on domestic and family violence in Queensland, 2015 p. 120).

This data has to be considered in confinement measures in order to reduce the risk factors of violence for women living under the same roof with their offenders, paying special attention to vulnerable communities.
How to guarantee human rights of women and girls in COVID-19 outbreak.
As the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for action on women's rights and gender equality is approaching and the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting disproportionately women and girls, it is the duty of all states to protect women from the dire consequences that confinement can cause.

The data revealed globally confirms that preventing violence against women and girls has to be prioritised by government and non-government agencies, especially in times of pandemics. Following the UN Women (2020) proposal, government and non-government agencies must take gender perspective into account, putting women and girls at the front and centre of national plans in addressing violence against women and girls during and after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Plans to respond to the current outbreak must:

work across agencies to prevent the exacerbation of violence against the female gender in times of crisis, especially in areas of lockdown or quarantine

educate relevant agencies regarding the increased likelihood and severity of GBV cases during periods of partial or complete lock-down

include women's perspectives in pandemic planning and decision-making

implement awareness campaigns of services available for victims of violence, especially in territories under confinement measures

reassess previously reported cases of GBV where the aggressor lives under the same roof in light of pandemic lockdown measures

strengthen victim support services during the COVID-19

In conclusion, national plans and policies should focus on both prevention and respond to women and girl victims of GBV. The pandemic and the consequent lockdown will, according to history, exacerbate the risk of domestic violence posed to vulnerable populations. The health system, social services, police, government and non-government entities have to provide specialised and effective support to victims of domestic violence before, during and after the COVID-19 outbreak. We have a responsibility to act to ensure the full guarantee of the human rights for all during times of crises, including the vulnerable.
References
Aolain, F. (2011) . Women, vulnerability, and humanitarian emergencies: Gender and Vulnerability in the Context of Humanitarian Crisis. Michigan Journal of Gender and Law: 18 (1), pp. 1-23. https://repository.law.umich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=mjgl.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2018). Recorded Crime- Victims. Report 2018. https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4510.0

Fraser, E. (2020). I mpact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Violence against Women and Girls: Methodology and Evidence gaps. VAWG Helpdesk Research. Report No. 284. http://www.sddirect.org.uk/media/1881/vawg-helpdesk-284-covid-19-and-vawg.pdf

Human Rights Watch - HRW. (2020). Human Rights Dimensions of COVID-19 Response: Address disproportionate impacts on women and girls. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/19/human-rights-dimensions-covid-19-response#_Toc35446584.

International Rescue Committee (IRC). (2019). Everything on her shoulders. Rapid assessment on gender and violence against women and girls in the Ebola outbreak in Beni, DRC: Violence against Women and Girls. Report March 2019. https://www.rescue.org/sites/default/files/document/3593/genderandgbvfindingsduringevdresponseindrc-final8march2019.pdf.

Piper and Stevenson (2019). The long history of gender violence in Australia, and why it matters today. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-long-history-of-gender-violence-in-australia-and-why-it-matters-today-119927.

Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland. (2015). Not now, not ever: Putting and end to Domestic and family Violence in Queensland. Brisbane Department of Communities, Childs Safety and Disability Services. https://www.csyw.qld.gov.au/resources/campaign/end-violence/about/dfv-report-vol-one.pdf

Stott, N. (2019) On Violence: Gender and Vulnerability in the Context or Humanitarian Crisis. Carlton.

United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA (2020) As Pandemic Rages, Women and Girls face intensified risks: Risk of Violence, affected livelihoods. https://www.unfpa.org/news/pandemic-rages-women-and-girls-face-intensified-risks.

UN Women (2014). Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Beijing+5 Political Declaration and Outcome. https://beijing20.unwomen.org/~/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/csw/pfa_e_final_web.pdf#page=82

UN Women (2020). COVID 19: Women front and centre. https://unwomen.org.au/newsroom/media-releases/covid-19-women-front-and-centre/.

World Health Organization. (2013). Global and Regional Estimates of Violence against Women: Prevalence and Health Effects of Intimate Partner Violence and Non-Partner Sexual Violence. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and South African Medical Research Council. https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/violence/9789241564625/en/.

World Health Organization-WHO. (2020). Director-general´s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID 19. (2020, March, 11) https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19-11-march-2020.

Key words: COVID-19; Family and Domestic Violence Australia, Gender-Based Violence; Human rights, Violence against women and girls.
Biography
María del Pilar Correa Cortes, psychologist from Colombia with a Master's degree in clinical, legal and forensic psychology from the Complutense University of Madrid. Over the past 17 years, she has been working as a psychologist in cases involving victims, who experienced all kind of violence inside and outside the armed conflict, especially women from mestizo, afro-descendant and indigenous communities in Colombia. In addition, she was a director of the Postgraduate programs in legal and forensic psychology in the Santo Tomas University in Colombia and currently a professor of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in psychology areas

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Covid-19 and Gender-based Violence - UNAA

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The global response to COVID-19 has seen varying degrees of lockdown and enforced isolation laws put in place by governments everywhere. However, while stay-at-home measures are safe for some, others could be at a higher risk of harm or, in extreme cases, being killed by a partner or family member.

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This info-graphic displays the detrimental impact that isolation can have on the well-being of women and girls, particularly those whose home environments are not the safest. It is expected that domestic violence will surge, potentially ruining all previous efforts made by countries.

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Interactive Exploration of the Gendered Impact of COVID-19. 

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Interactive Exploration of the Gendered Impact of COVID-19. 

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The link below, provides an interactive glimpse into the impact of COVID-19 on gender issues. It explores all issues impacted from the pandemic, including: domestic violence, women's health and the implications it's had on young girl's education. There is also a quiz to explore the extent to which individual's understand just how much the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a shadow pandemic.

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In a nutshell

A profound shock to our societies and economies, the COVID-19 pandemic underscores society's reliance on women both on the front line and at home, while simultaneously exposing structural inequalities across every sphere, from health to the economy, security to social protection. In times of crisis, when resources are strained and institutional capacity is limited, women and girls face disproportionate impacts with far reaching consequences that are only further amplified in contexts of fragility, conflict, and emergencies. Hard-fought gains for women's rights are also under threat. Responding to the pandemic is not just about rectifying long-standing inequalities, but also about building a resilient world in the interest of everyone with women at the centre of recovery. Explore these varied impacts below and take a quiz to test your knowledge. For more information on this topic, visit UN Women's dedicated web page featuring news, resources and more, and learn about our response.

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A profound shock to our societies and economies, the COVID-19 pandemic underscores society's reliance on women both on the front line and at home, while simultaneously exposing structural inequalities across every sphere, from health to the economy, security to social protection.

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Effects of the COVID-19 restrictions on Domestic Violence in Spain

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Effects of the COVID-19 restrictions on Domestic Violence in Spain

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Domestic Violence cases have increased in Spain in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is reported that in the first two weeks of April (2020) there has been a 47% increase in calls to the domestic violence helpline, compared the same period of time last year (April 2019) and the number of women contacting support services, (which have been designated as essential by the government) by email or on social media has have increased by as much as 700%.

Despite the steep increase in support group reported cases, there has been a sharp drop in complaints being made directly to the police. María Ángeles Carmona, president of the government agency dealing with gender violence, believes that the drop in police reports is partly due to the restrictions on leaving the house. "Around 30% of police complaints are about breaking restraining orders, but under the lockdown no one is allowed to leave their home,” she says.

There are fears in Spain that the rate of domestic and gender based violence will continue to increase During the pandemic, due to no one being allowed out except to buy food or medicine, women living with abusive partners will have Little to no chance to escape their situation.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/apr/28/three-women-killed-in-spain-as-coronavirus-lockdown-sees-rise-in-domestic-violence

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UN WOMENS: 4 key actions to include women’s needs in the COVID-19 response

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UN WOMENS: 4 key actions to include women’s needs in the COVID-19 response

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4 key actions to include women’s needs in the COVID-19 response

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Trinidad: UWI’s St Augustine campus’s Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) is alerted the nation to the harsh reality of child abuse and gender-based violence being a major component of the social fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

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Trinidad: UWI’s St Augustine campus’s Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) is alerted the nation to the harsh reality of child abuse and gender-based violence being a major component of the social fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

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They called for countries within the region to also be mindful of gender insecurities that are heightened when victims of child sexual abuse cannot access the safety of hours spent at school, awareness of the increased psychosocial tensions produced by the economics of underemployment and unemployment, which are disproportionately carried by women. There must also be consideration for the implications of victims in the home who will no longer be able to seek assistance which was once offered.

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By Trinidad Newsday

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(TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) - UWI's St Augustine campus's Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) is alerting the nation to the harsh reality that apart from the health and socio-economic effects, child abuse and gender-based violence are also major components of the social fallout caused by the covid19 pandemic.

The institute saidchild abuse and gender-based violence will be severely exacerbated by current social, cultural, and gendered inequalities which have become a part of the nation's DNA over time.

It is therefore calling not only on TT but countries in the region to be mindful of gendered insecurities that are heightened when victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) cannot access the safety of hours spent at school. TT must consider the implications for victims of all forms of gender-based violence (GBV) in the home, who will no longer be able to seek solace in the release offered by the opportunity of work outside.

Similarly, the country must be aware of the increased psychosocial tensions produced by the economics of underemployment and unemployment, which are disproportionately carried by women, who make up the backbone of the regional service industry and informal sector.

The country's current reality is a complex one, and it is necessary for all to respond more relevantly, holistically, and strategically to the challenges. We are not exclusively economic beings, a release from the institute said, and policy responses must consider emerging non-economic insecurities.

Vulnerable citizens will not all have equitable access to those remedies made available by the various agencies. Existing structural, social and gendered inequalities will deny access to some of our very vulnerable citizens. Therefore, social sector service providers need to take into account the factors that will influence the inequalities of access to the services they are providing.

Whether these factors include increased home care responsibilities, age, sex, physical ability, level of technological connectivity etc., they are critical to the envisioned efficacy of our social sector response.

Most importantly, individually, it said, as we are called upon to isolate ourselves, become teachers and technological experts and the like, we must also reflect on ways in which we can revive what regional feminist activist Peggy Antrobus refers to as our "Caribbean gift economies."

Now more than ever, the institute said, we need to find innovative ways to share all those goods we give to each other as expressions of solidarity, love and caring.

"We at the Institute for Gender and Development Studies consistent with our mission to advance social justice, promote gender-responsive human relations, and development in the wider society remains committed to the ideals of development responses that are aware of the social, cultural and gendered dimensions of how our population will survive covid19," the release said.

NUMBERS TO CALL IF IN NEED OF HELP:

* ChildLine 24-hour hotline (live chat on website 8 am-4 pm Mon-Fri): 800-4321

* Children's Authority 24-hour hotline: 996/8002014

* Families in Action 24-hour hotline (English and Spanish): 628-2333/365-4858

* Family Planning Association: Youth 627-1760

PORT OF SPAIN: 623-5169

SOUTH: 652-3065

TOBAGO: 639-8959

* National Domestic Violence 24-hour hotline: 800-SAVE

* Police: 999

* Queens Park Counselling Centre and Clinic: 627-1163 Ext 2085

* Rape Crisis Society: 627-7273 [email protected])

* TT Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CADV): 624-0402

* TTPS Victim and Witness Support Unit: 624-8853

* TTPS Child Protection Unit Secretariat, Belmont: 612-2588/621-3160

* CPU divisions are based at police stations

See list via: https://ttchildren.org/services/registry

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Trinidad: Child, gender-based violence a covid19 reality -UWI - St. Lucia News Online

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(TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) - UWI's St Augustine campus's Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) is alerting the nation to the harsh reality that apart from the health and socio-economic effects, child abuse and gender-based violence are also major components of the social fallout caused by the covid19 pandemic.

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Domestic violence has increased through COVID lockdowns and the depleting resources have escalated tensions even higher.
There has been a massive trend of calls of married women asking to be rescued from parental homes since the lockdown was placed. Mothers, fathers, stepmothers, and siblings are also being accused of domestic violence.
“Confinement is fostering the tension and strain created by security, health, and money worries. And it is increasing isolation for women with violent partners, separating them from the people and resources that can best help them. It’s a perfect storm for controlling, violent behavior behind closed doors,” UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said in a statement calling the violence against women and girls “a shadow pandemic.”

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The chaos and instability crisis' cause create a hostile environment for women and girls putting them in vulnerable. 

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The chaos and instability crisis' cause create a hostile environment for women and girls putting them in vulnerable. 

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In China domestic violence reports nearly doubled after cities were put under lock-down, with 90% related to the epidemic.
Malaysia, Lebanon, France, Argentina, Cyprus and Singapore domestic helplines skyrocketed

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"35% of women around the world have already experienced some form of sexual and gender-based violence in their lifetime. In crisis settings, this number skyrocketed to more than 70%"

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Research shows an increase in Africa during the ebola break out resulted in an increase in gender and sexual-based violence.
The ebola breakout in 2013-2015 and it's destruction on women and girls stability can be observed in the COVID 19 breakout. Resources are being used to contain the breakout and neglect those most vulnerable; women and girls.
As tensions rise in homes and lack of opportunities or resources to leave homes, women and girls are the ones most vulnerable to abuse.
The parallels between the response to Ebola and COVID-19 are striking. Public health infrastructure during Ebola came to a grinding halt. In a desperate attempt to control the virus, governments employed many of the current social distancing strategies. These included school closures, curfews, and quarantines.
These strategies are all evident in the current strategies to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Sexual and gender-based violence during COVID-19: lessons from Ebola

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The COVID-19 pandemic is a disaster that has severely disrupted the normal functioning of populations around the world and continues to proliferate indiscriminately. Disease outbreaks like COVID-19 threaten the health of all. But women and girls are disproportionately affected. During epidemics, the very measures taken to protect populations and keep health systems afloat leave women and girls especially vulnerable to violence.

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The global outbreak of COVID 19 have resulted in an increase of gender- based violence. 

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The global outbreak of COVID 19 have resulted in an increase of gender- based violence. 

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As communities around the world are forced to stay at home, women and girls are at a heightened risk of domestic violence,  sexual violence and child abuse. As resources that were once available are now stripped and economic stresses rise, such as job losses and reduced income, food insecurity, fears about contracting the virus, mental health issues, disrupted routines women and girls are the most vulnerable without any resources and opportunities to distance themselves from their abusers.