YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Coronavirus is fuelling domestic violence.
Sadly for people experiencing domestic violence, social distancing and lockdown means being trapped inside with an abuser. Meaning the efforts made to flatten the coronavirus curve has inadvertently led to a rise in domestic violence.This is a double whammy as domestic violence is already a global deadly epidemic.According to WHO (The World Health Organisation) One in three women around the world experience physical or sexual violence, mostly from an intimate partner.
As the WHO notes: “This makes it the most widespread, but among the least reported human rights abuses.” Gender-based violence tends to increase during humanitarian emergencies and conflicts; “women’s bodies too often become battlefields”.
What makes it even the more heartbreaking is that there are reports that in addition to physical abuse, perpetrators have taken emotional abuse a notch more sinister and are threatening to throw their victims out onto the street, with just the clothes on their so they get sick with the virus. Some hotlines have received calls from victims who have been threatened that if they report, medical assistance and financial resources will be withheld. Just last weekend, a client of mine who lives in the same house with her soon to be ex, and is undergoing a divorce was flung across her kitchen, where she banged her head on the side of the cooker.
This is a horrific example of how Covid-19 is already being used by abusive partners to further control and abuse their victims and how the lockdown is impacting the ability of victims to access support and refuge services as well as a host of different things that they would typically lean on in their communities for respite like churches, fitness glasses, mother and baby groups or simple chats with other parents at the school gates.Recently, the UK Home Secretary said Domestic abuse victims are allowed to leave home to seek help at refuges despite rules to stop coronavirus spreading. Wherever you are in the world, if you are experiencing any form of domestic abuse, please don’t keep quiet.
Report it. Here in the UK, Domestic Violence is a crime.
If you are in immediate danger always call the police, and always dial 999 if it is an emergency. They have a duty to protect and help you.
Other numbers:
24hr National Domestic Abuse Helpline Freephone: 0808 2000 247 (24 hours)
If you are in an abusive situation or feel that you might be and would like to speak to someone please send an email zinaarinze@believeandliveagain.com.