Publication Date
2020
Start Date
21-8-2020 11:20 AM
End Date
21-8-2020 11:45 AM
Moderator
Afrikaan Osman
Description
Since its outbreak last year, COVID-19 infection has significantly changed aspects of our lives. The Novel Coronavirus Disease was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Since then, there have been more than 20 million confirmed cases and more than 700 thousand deaths, and the virus has enormously impacted everyone's life economically, physically, psychologically, and socially. Although the spread of Coronavirus is nonselective in its effect, Coronavirus has worsened and provided more clarity on the marginalization of women and girls due to the unequal power between men and women. Also, the Coronavirus crisis has compounded the pre-existing issue of domestic violence against women primarily caused by gender inequality. Domestic violence against women involves emotional abuse, physical and sexual abuse. Due to measures like lockdown and social distancing to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus, women and girls find themselves in more vulnerable environments. These unsafe environments are homes, where women and girls should typically feel and be safe. Therefore, women are dealing with two pandemics: COVID-19 and domestic violence. Also, women are unable to get the help they need because of being locked in at homes with their abusers, inadequate services to help victims of violence as well as communication challenges—particularly prevalent in developing nations. In my presentation, I intend to show how women in abusive relationships are facing two pandemics: COVID-19 and domestic violence and explain why it is not safe for women in abusive relationships to stay home. Also, I hope to suggest solutions that will address the issue to create safe homes for victims and survivors amid any crisis.
When It Is Not Safe to Stay Home: How the Coronavirus Pandemic Led to a Rise in Domestic Violence Against Women
Since its outbreak last year, COVID-19 infection has significantly changed aspects of our lives. The Novel Coronavirus Disease was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Since then, there have been more than 20 million confirmed cases and more than 700 thousand deaths, and the virus has enormously impacted everyone's life economically, physically, psychologically, and socially. Although the spread of Coronavirus is nonselective in its effect, Coronavirus has worsened and provided more clarity on the marginalization of women and girls due to the unequal power between men and women. Also, the Coronavirus crisis has compounded the pre-existing issue of domestic violence against women primarily caused by gender inequality. Domestic violence against women involves emotional abuse, physical and sexual abuse. Due to measures like lockdown and social distancing to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus, women and girls find themselves in more vulnerable environments. These unsafe environments are homes, where women and girls should typically feel and be safe. Therefore, women are dealing with two pandemics: COVID-19 and domestic violence. Also, women are unable to get the help they need because of being locked in at homes with their abusers, inadequate services to help victims of violence as well as communication challenges—particularly prevalent in developing nations. In my presentation, I intend to show how women in abusive relationships are facing two pandemics: COVID-19 and domestic violence and explain why it is not safe for women in abusive relationships to stay home. Also, I hope to suggest solutions that will address the issue to create safe homes for victims and survivors amid any crisis.