"[M]edia coverage and reports from organisations that respond to violence against women reveal an alarming picture of increased reports of intimate partner violence during this outbreak, including partners using physical distancing measures to further isolate affected women from resources. In Jianli County, Hubei province of China, a police department reported a tripling of domestic violence cases in February 2020 compared with February 2019, estimating that 90% were related to the covid-19 epidemic. In the UK, a project tracking violence against women noted that deaths from domestic abuse between 23 March and 12 April had more than doubled (to 16 deaths) compared with the average rate in the previous 10 years...
Past epidemics, including Ebola and Zika, suggest violence against women may shift in nature and scale as outbreaks affect social and economic life. Half of the world’s population is being asked to stay at home to slow the spread of covid-19. For women already in abusive relationships, or at risk of such abuse, staying at home increases their risk of intimate partner violence. Children may also be exposed to intimate partner violence or be abused themselves. Urgent steps must be taken to address the risks of violence faced by women and children during pandemic restrictions."
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