Women and family advocates around the world are raising the alarm over the ever present threat of an increase in gender-based violence as people are asked to stay home to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19.
In the fight against the spread of Coronavirus, data shows promising results that social distancing may be flattening the curve and reducing the pace of new cases. This is good news and we must all continue to do our part in practicing social distancing and staying safer-at-home.
However, Safer-At-Home orders may unintentionally increase risk factors that prime household environments for violence and abuse. Forms of violence may include physical, sexual, stalking, psychological, emotional, coercion, and financial. Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and women living with mental or physical disabilities are at particular risk.
Why is there greater concern under COVID-19 Safer-at-Home Orders? Public health responses to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 has created a multiplier effect of known intimate partner risk factors identified by the Center for Disease Control. These include job loss, overcrowded housing, food scarcity, increased alcohol consumption, and isolation from friends and other social supports.
The increased numbers of people in the households due to employees working remotely, massive job lay-offs, and closures of public facilities such as schools, libraries, and some parks have limited social movement and places outside of the home where individual household members can catch a break, gather their thoughts, socialize with non-household members.
The anxiety of an uncertain future has also permeated our collective consciousness so that many people are finding a hard time “turning off’ the news, social media, and other outlets – impacting their ability to breathe deeply, sleep, and find joy in the moment. All of these conditions create a tinderbox inside of the home for acts of violence to increase.
There is hope.
Karen Earl, CEO of Jenesse Center, a domestic violence and human trafficking program serving the South Los Angeles community, confirmed that while providers have transitioned many services online, they are still open and ready to serve. Local philanthropist such as singer Rihanna, have also stepped up to donate to local COVID relief efforts to ensure those fleeing domestic violence have a safe place to go during this crisis.
If you or someone that you know may be in an unsafe home environment, here are some resources for help:
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799 SAFE
Los Angeles County: 1-800-978-3600
Teen Dating Hotline: 1-866-331-9474 or text “lovies”-22522
Los Angeles Rape and Battery Hotline:
213-626-3393 (Central Los Angeles)
310-392-8381 (South Los Angeles)
626-793-3385 (West San Gabriel)
Los Angeles Area Alcohol Anonymous Online Meetings
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Self-care in isolation through the words through the survivor of household abuse: http://inthesetimes.com/article/22450/isolation-can-be-difficult-for-survivors-of-trauma-domestic-abuse
*Adopted from a blog written for UN Women-USA, LA
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