COVID-19: Stopping the rise in domestic violence during lockdown

8 Apr 2020 01:17 PM

Women’s Rights committee Chair, Evelyn Regner, urges the EU and member states to increase support to victims of domestic violence during the COVID-19 crisis.

• Cases of domestic violence rose by a third in some EU countries following lockdown
• Member states should provide victims with flexible tools to report abuse
• Places in violence protection facilities and shelters must be increased
• Women will be hit much harder by the post-coronavirus economic crisis

Both globally and in some EU countries, it has been reported that cases of domestic violence rose by a third in the week after lockdown was put in place. Women in violent relationships are stuck at home and exposed to their abuser for longer periods of time. This makes it very difficult for them to call helplines, as the perpetrator is always around.

Reacting to this situation, Evelyn Regner (S&D, AT), Chair of the EP Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, declared:

‘‘These days and the weeks ahead are especially dangerous for women. We are all facing major psychological challenges through isolation or quarantine, but women and sometimes children in unsafe homes are facing a particularly gruelling stress test. We, therefore, must now pay particular attention to this issue and expand our actions to stop violence against women.’’

Click here for the full press release