Isolation and lockdowns for COVID-19 helped prevent the spread of a deadly virus, but they also played their part in the increase of domestic violence.
In times of crisis, especially epidemics, violence against women tends to rise. Women are more likely to experience violence in times of stress, when their social and protective networks are disrupted, when facing increasing economic difficulties, and when having less access to resources.
The most important strategy used in stopping disease outbreaks is social confinement, but it can also have negative social, financial, and psychological effects. Alcohol and drug misuse, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms are all linked to quarantine conditions, as well as the shutdown of non-essential businesses. When these businesses stop running, they lead to increased unemployment and put a strain on the economy. Domestic violence victims experiencing devastating consequences is one of the main concerns of quarantining.
In 2019, the rate of domestic violence committed by an intimate partner or a family member in the U.S. was 4.2 victimizations per 1000 people and there were 1.2 million domestic violence victims, according to government data. After COVID hit, these rates were increased by over 8% in the U.S and 25-33% globally.
A survey done by NBC news suggests that out of 22 law enforcement agencies across the country, 18 departments had seen a rise in domestic violence calls. Although there were multiple calls, 50% of all cases went unreported as well, due to personal and societal reasons.
The United Nations Population Fund had suggested that during the lockdown, for every 3 months, an additional 15 million gender-based violence cases were expected to occur globally.
Within a year of the Coronavirus outbreak, domestic assault reports to the police in Hubei province, China increased by more than three times, going from 47 reports in February 2019 to 162 reports in February 2020. 90% of the reasons of violence during this time, according to statistics from the Chinese police, were connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Intimate partner violence is defined as physical, emotional, psychological, or economic abuse and stalking or sexual harm by a current or former partner or spouse. 41% of women and 26% of men experience a form of intimate partner violence at some point in their life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The epidemic of intimate partner violence was made worse by additional stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, a situation where victims and aggressors, or potential aggressors in a relationship, cannot readily distance themselves from each other. Other reasons for this additional stress were mental illness, substance abuse, and economic insecurity. The additional stress can also lead to mental health problems which can further alienate people from the idea of receiving help and getting away from their abusers, making their situations impossible.
