Physical and sexual violence against women increases during the social isolation of the coronavirus | Coronavirus

The document was released in April by UN Women, a United Nations entity for gender equality and empowerment.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutiérrez said in a statement earlier this month that “in recent weeks, as economic and social pressures and fear have increased, we have seen a horrible global wave of domestic violence” “In some countries, the number of women calling support services has doubled.”

It happened in a neighborhood in the eastern part of São Paulo. As these episodes increased, immigrant women living in the region created a group on WhatsApp to receive help and offer help to victims of violence.

They report that family environments who were already violent before the pandemic more aggressive in the absence of money – almost all of them work in sewing workshops, which have been closed since March 17, and since live full time with family members inside the house

“The group is made up of 22 women who have already guided and done educational work against domestic violence in the neighborhood before the pandemic. With isolation, these women leaders were unable to leave the house. Then they began to use the phone to communicate with women and speak directly to the aggressor, “he said in an interview with G1 Silvia, a lady who offers assistance to the group.

She and the other participants preferred not to be identified. After receiving the victim’s report through the application, the women of the group denounce it by calling 180 and calling the social service of the region.

“The problem is that we never have a quick response from protection services and government social assistance. We didn’t have it before, now, so … “says Silvia. In the emergency, leadership women began calling the attackers.

“They call the man and say, ‘We are aware that he hit his wife. We have already alerted the neighborhood and the entire neighborhood is watching him,'” says the lady. “It doesn’t solve the problem, but we are trying to minimize the situation right now.”

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One of the last women to ask the group for help on WhatsApp was beaten by her husband in the first week of quarantine. “We called him and gave him the message. We warn the neighbors. Now, we are monitoring the situation at home daily. There has been no more aggression since then, “says Silvia.

In April, the World Health Organization (WHO) began to show greater concern about the increase in attacks against women in the pandemic.

“We ask countries to consider services fight against domestic violence as an essential service, which should continue to function during the response to Covid-19, “said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference in which he participated on April 3.

Delegate offers help in condominium

Delegate Raquel Gallinati, president of the Union of Police Delegates of the State of São Paulo (SINDPESP) explains that the pandemic took all sectors of society by surprise, including the public security sector. “Obviously, we do not have laws that specifically address domestic violence in this isolated situation. On the other hand, This violence intensified with the 24-hour lockdown.”

Resident of a condominium in São Paulo, the delegate made a poster – and shared in the group of messages from neighbors – saying that her department is open to house women victims of violence domestic during isolation (look down).

“All of us as a society must be available to try to minimize the side effects of that moment. If you see or hear violence against women during quarantine, report it, call the police,” said the delegate.

Regarding the initiative to offer her own home to house a victim of domestic violence, Raquel advises the person who intends to do the same to consider the risks involved in the situation.

“If you live in a condominium, where living with the neighbors is closer and you know this victim, welcome this woman; this gesture can prevent femicide. But you must consider the situation and do nothing that you can become a victim too. “

Increase in domestic violence in Brazil

The Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights reported that the quarantine generated a almost 9% increase in the number of calls for the Ligue 180 channel, which receives reports of violence against women: between March 1 and 16, there were 3,045 calls and 829 complaints; Between March 17 and 25, these numbers jumped to 3,303 and 978, respectively.

In light of the increase, the portfolio launched the Human Rights Brazil app on April 2, in which victims of various types of human rights violations, including domestic violence, will be able to contact authorities during isolation and ask for help.

In São Paulo, the online registration of a report of domestic violence began to take effect on April 2. Previously, the victim had to go in person to the Women’s Defense Police Station (DDM) to record the assault.

According to delegate Jamila Jorge Ferrari, state coordinator of DDM in São Paulo, the Civil Police implemented the measure after state police stations reported a decrease in women and newsletter records in the first two weeks of quarantine, decreed on March 17.

“We fear that social isolation measures may cause underreporting of cases of domestic violence at this time,” says the delegate.

Ferrari warns that, when recording the police report at the police station, the victim must inform the best way for the police to communicate with him without the aggressor knowing, since he spends 24 hours a day at home.

“For example, you can write that you prefer that the police call your mother’s house or communicate with her through a messaging application or email.”

The delegate reports that the Civil Police is encouraging the population to report cases of violence against women in numbers 180 and 190.

“If you hear screaming, crying, breaking up, fighting, calling and reporting. A the report is anonymous and it can help save lives, especially at a time when the victim is far from her social circle. ”

In the city of São Paulo, there was an increase in the number of arrests for acts of domestic violence, from 177 in February to 268 in March. (see more in the video below).

Another example of this increase is Blumenal (SC), where cases of domestic violence increased 39%.

Regarding femicide cases, data from the Brazilian Public Security Forum show that there was a significant increase in the murder of women in the home in March, in São Paulo (46%), Acre (100%), Rio Grande do Norte (300%) and Mato Grosso (400%). The comparison was made with March 2019.

Increase in domestic violence in the world.

See below for UN Women and WHO data on rising domestic violence in countries affected by the coronavirus pandemic:

• In France, the record of cases of domestic violence has increased by 30% since March 17, when the country enacted quarantine; in Paris, the increase was 36%.
• In China, reports of violence against women tripled during the period of detention, between January and early April.
• In Argentina, there has been a 25% increase in telephone complaints since March 20, when the country adopted isolation measures.
• In Singapore, the increase in whistleblowing records was 30% in March.
• In Malaysia and Lebanon, reports of violence against women doubled during the period of detention.
• In Canada, France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, government officials report increasing reports of domestic violence and an increased demand for shelter for victims.

Against the increase in domestic violence in the world, Italy observed a decrease in calls for complaints during childbirth: in the first 15 days of March, the country’s protection service received 652 calls; In the same period in 2019, there were 1,104 calls, according to Reuters news agency.

Also according to Reuters, a report by the Italian parliamentary committee on violence against women cited the decrease as a sign that “victims of violence were at risk of further exposure to control.” [imposto pela quarentena] and the aggression committed by the partner “.

This is because they are prevented from leaving the house to go to the police station, for example, or they cannot use their cell phones to ask for help.

Strategies for dealing with domestic violence in isolation

On Tuesday (14), the Brazilian feminist organization Think Olga published a report that compiles data on the increase in violence against women during the coronavirus pandemic. In the document organization lists strategies for victims of domestic violence adopt during delivery:

• bring someone from the family home;
• hide sharp objects;
• eliminate potential “triggers” and household enhancers, such as alcoholic beverages and drugs;
• warn family and neighbors about what is happening (in the event of episodes of violence);
• and stay in touch with their support network through phone and apps, email and other social networks.

• Identify a place to go if you need to leave home immediately;
• and develop a protection plan for women and their children.

In extreme cases of aggression, the delegate Raquel Gallinati, president of SINDPESP, advises that the victim go in person to a police station for women. “This woman should seek help with friends, family or by phone 180, even during isolation, through the Internet. But, when she realizes that the relationship is unsustainable, that there is a risk of death, she must leave the house and seek help. ” at a police station right away. ”

Both UN Women and WHO and feminist organizations argue that, during the pandemic, the solution is not to end social isolation, but to keep women’s protection services active, to increase investment in online services, they declare shelters as services. essential and provide support to local NGOs to combat domestic violence.

For UN Women, it is essential that governments offer financial support to women, as the economic impact of the pandemic can create additional barriers for a victim to leave a violent partner.