Abused women and children forgotten in this crisis

The government’s Covid19 emergency package fails glaringly to protect vulnerable women and children from violence and abuse during the lockdown.

The lockdown may have been effective so far in slowing the spread of Covid-19, but confining people to their homes raises the spectre of already alarming levels of violence and abuse against women and children exploding to terrifying levels.

SA has among the highest levels of violence and abuse against women and children per capita outside war zones.

The cabin fever phenomenon, which leads to fear, anxiety and a sense of powerlessness, could increase such violence.

In addition, the economic downturn, business closures and looming unemployment, fear, stress and anxiety can often result in men taking out their frustrations on women and children. In the first week of the lockdown the police received 87,000 complaints of domestic abuse.

Moreover, because of inequality, most men are the major or only income earners, which means abused partners are often financially dependent on their abusers.

During the lockdown these victims cannot easily leave violent or abusive households, or seek help. The restrictions also constrain the reach of civil society organisations dedicated to fighting violence and abuse against women and children.

Sadly, the army and the police, 26 years after the end of apartheid, are still poorly trained and not empathetic in dealing with such violence. Some are even perpetrators.

Incidents of domestic violence and abuse in many other countries have also increased during lockdowns.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, in a video message posted on Twitter this week, warned about a “horrifying global surge” in domestic violence. “We know lockdowns and quarantines are essential to suppressing Covid-19, but they can trap women with abusive partners,” he said.

The French government this week approached hotels to allow women victims of violence to stay in vacant rooms at the state’s expense. Some countries have created pop-up counselling centres at retail stores, pharmacies and other essential-service points for women experiencing violence and abuse.

The UK this week released £750m (about R17bn) in emergency funding for charities and civil society organisations, including those that work with women and children victims of domestic abuse. Australia released US$100m (R1.8bn) to support services that deal with domestic violence and abuse.

Brazil, like SA, has high levels of gender inequality and gender-based violence. It has given women money directly to empower them by providing a basic income grant of US$125 over the three-month period of its lockdown.

India, another developing country with high levels of gender inequality and gender-based violence, has paid cash amounts into bank accounts of vulnerable women who are already linked to a government-backed financial inclusion programme to empower them. These women are also given food parcels.

In SA, the police and army patrolling the streets to enforce the lockdown must be given instructions to listen to women and children who complain about abuse.

It goes without saying the police and the army should not be perpetrators of violence and abuse against women and children.

Prosecution of perpetrators of violence and abuse against women must be swift. Special courts must be set up if necessary.

Retailers, pharmacies and other essential services could serve as pop-up counselling centres. Funds must also be set aside to support victims of violence and abuse during the Covid-19 lockdown.

As part of the emergency economic measures, civil society organisations dealing with abuse against women and children should get special funding during the lockdown to continue what they do.

Food vouchers that can be used at retail stores, or food parcels that can be distributed by the army, must be given to all those in need. A basic income grant to all indigent will make them less dependent on men during the lockdown.

Hotlines, shelters and legal assistance for victims of genderbased violence must not only remain open but should be generously resourced. Individuals who can should volunteer to help on hotlines and at shelters and provide financial, legal and accommodation assistance. Telecommunications companies such as Telkom, Vodacom and MTN could make a simple key or function available on mobile-phone platforms, similar to those that a person can dial for airtime or data, which serves as a free hotline to report violence against women and children.