UN official: COVID-19 lockdowns see rise in domestic violence

Though exact statistics are not readily available, domestic violence cases across the region have risen since the start of COVID-19 lockdowns earlier this year.

This disclosure came from Acting Representative at United Nations Women Caribbean, Tonni Brodber, as she spoke at the Soroptimist International of Barbados annual general meeting at the Hilton Barbados on Monday.

Brodber, who was speaking on the topic The Impact of COVID-19 on Domestic Violence, said although statistics had not been collected from all relevant authorities, initial reports from police forces and other organisations dealing with domestic abuse cases across the region, all point to worrying increases in these acts.

“We anecdotally know that it has significantly gone up, and it is specific to intimate partner violence, violence against children, and elderly abuse. We know that has happened; we don’t only know it because we have seen the newspaper headlines, we are seeing every now and then police officers who give us clearer information. But remember, prevalence of violence against women and girls is always higher than what the administrative data tells us,” she explained.

Brodber also suggested that groups like Soroptimist International should look at more holistic approaches to solving domestic violence issues.

She warned that though COVID-19 caught many persons by surprise, there will be other situations in the future that affect the livelihoods of citizens. Bearing this in mind, there is a need to find more sustainable solutions for these at-risk persons so that they can better manage their lives during unpredictable financial downturns.

“What we and groups that do amazing work like yours really have to figure out is how we can support sustained action to end violence against women and girls; sustained systems of reporting [violence] that are reliable and that people trust, because in smaller islands people don’t necessarily trust them because they think people will know their business. How can we support that in times where there is no COVID-19? When there is a COVID-19, all it does is exacerbate the gaps that already existed before,” Brodber said.

She added that the mental health stress caused by COVID-19 should also not be ignored, noting that because of the epidemic, abusers now feel mentally justified in committing the criminal acts against their partners.

“People are doing things that they would not necessarily do, and those people who were doing these things before now feel like they have free rein to just do whatever it is they wanted to do. If they are angry with you, and you left them, most women are at risk after they have left a relationship,” the UN official warned.