The Shadow Pandemic: COVID-19 and the Rise of Gender-Based Violence

Written by Akhila Sandhu

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the lives of people all over the world, affecting the ways in which we learn, work, and interact within society. However, for countless women and girls, it has not only disrupted their lives but jeopardized their safety. Gender-based violence is a global issue that affects women and girls of all ages and from all backgrounds. This issue is intersectional in its impact on individuals and with increasing levels of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and child marriage, the pandemic has put generations of progress for women’s rights at risk.

According to statistics, gender-based violence has risen by an estimated 25% since the beginning of the pandemic and women’s resources have become increasingly limited. This has endangered many people, especially in places where women and girls are already disproportionately impacted by ongoing conflicts and disasters. COVID-19 lockdowns have restricted access to shelters, healthcare, and legal support– making it extremely difficult for people to receive the help they need. This has put both the safety and health of women and girls at risk.

For instance, in fragile countries like Venezuela and Haiti, critical women’s health services have become deprioritised by the government. This has led to higher rates of unwanted pregnancies and maternal mortality which can largely be attributed to a lack of funding. Additionally, as schools have closed and families have struggled financially, there have been increases in child marriage in many countries like Bangladesh and Cameroon.

Even in Canada, domestic violence is a rising issue. According to recent data, one woman is murdered by an intimate partner every six days in Canada, and every night thousands of women and children seek emergency shelter to escape abusive homes. However, with the added stress and financial uncertainty that many Canadians have experienced throughout the pandemic, violence against women has inevitably increased. Meanwhile, shelters have not been able to function at full capacity due to pandemic restrictions.

In response to these alarming statistics, UN Women and other organizations have attempted to raise awareness for issues of gender-based violence, launching campaigns like the Shadow Pandemic Campaign in order to support women in crises. Here are some facts about gender-based domestic violence and the shadow pandemic provided by UN Women:

• “Globally, even before the COVID-19 pandemic began, 1 in 3 women experienced physical or sexual violence mostly by an intimate partner.”

• “Emerging data shows an increase in calls to domestic violence helplines in many countries since the outbreak of COVID-19.”

• “Sexual harassment and other forms of violence against women continue to occur on streets, in public spaces and online.”

• “Survivors have limited information and awareness about available services and limited access to support services.”

• “In some countries, resources and efforts have been diverted from violence against women response to immediate COVID-19 relief.”

By isolating and confining people within their homes, the pandemic has stripped many women and girls of their bodily autonomy. This has left countless people vulnerable to sexual and physical violence. As the pandemic continues, its effects on the wellbeing of victims are likely to intensify, affecting survivors' mental and physical health and restricting their ability to participate in the economy and re-enter society as a whole post-pandemic.

This rise in gender-based violence is referred to as a shadow pandemic due to the pernicious and often under-reported nature of domestic violence incidents. Even before the pandemic, domestic violence against women was one of the most common human rights violations– yet less than 40% of victims would report the crimes against them or seek any sort of help and less than 10% of those that did say they went to the police. This is largely due to the fact that many victims feel they will not be believed or supported, and it doesn’t help that 1 in 4 countries do not have any laws against domestic violence. And now, with the pandemic, access to both phones and helplines has been restricted and it has become even more difficult to access support services or law enforcement.

Ultimately, everyone has the right to bodily autonomy and safety, but without proper access to education, resources, or support, many find themselves unable to escape abusive or harmful situations. Violence against women and girls is an issue that greatly affects women’s rights and it is imperative that we support the organizations and services that work to prevent and respond to crises. It is also essential that governments include measures against gender-based violence in their response plans for COVID-19 and that nations work together to provide greater support for women and girls facing multiple forms of discrimination. As put by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, “We must… work to strengthen multilateral partnerships and increase support and funding for civil society, so that every woman and girl can live free from violence.”