• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Joint Public Issues Team

Churches working for peace and justice

  • Home Page
  • Who We Are
    • Six hopes for society
  • Issues
    • Economy
      • Tax Justice
      • Reset The Debt
      • Living Wage
    • Environment
      • Net Zero in My Neighbourhood
    • Poverty and Inequality
      • The Cost of Living Crisis
      • Universal Credit
      • Truth and Lies
      • Enough
      • Rethink Sanctions
      • Faith in Foodbanks
      • Housing and Homelessness
    • Asylum and Migration
      • Refugees
      • End Hostility
      • The Asylum System
    • Peacemaking
      • The Arms Trade
      • Nuclear Weapons
      • Drones
      • Peacemaking resources
    • Politics and Elections
      • Elections
      • Meet Your MP
      • Art of the Possible
      • Brexit
    • Other Issues
      • International Development
      • Modern Slavery and Exploitation
        • Forced labour in fashion
  • Get Involved
    • JPIT Conference 2022
    • Newsletter
    • Events
    • Walking with Micah
  • Resources
    • Advent
    • 10 Minutes on… podcast
    • Politics in the Pulpit?
    • Stay and Pray
    • Season of Creation
    • Prayers
    • Public Issues Calendar
    • Poetry
    • Small Group Resources
  • Blog

When home isn’t safe

COVID-19, Poverty and Inequality · 27 March, 2020

We’re told that right now home is the safest place for us to be. That home is our sanctuary during the outbreak of this global pandemic. However, for the millions of people across the world, predominantly women, who experience domestic violence, this understanding of home is far from their reality.

As we see the lockdown of countries and cities across the globe, what does this mean for those for whom home, rather than being a place of safety and protection, is the place they fear the most?

It is estimated that approximately 1 in 3 women globally have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime [1]. In the UK last year 1.6 million women ⁱ reported to have experienced domestic abuse [2] and 80 women were killed by their partner or ex-partner—equating to approximately three women every fortnight [3].

While self-isolation is necessary to curb the spread of coronavirus, it risks exacerbating cases of domestic abuse. For those women experiencing domestic violence, self-isolation has them trapped in their homes with their abusers. Coercive control is already a common tactic used by abusers to isolate their victims from the outside world. So, instructing households to self-isolate gives the perpetrator greater authority and mandate to continue this abuse. At the same time, it also crucially gives the perpetrator an increased time frame in which to carry out their abuse.

Self-isolation is likely to make it increasingly difficult for abused women to access the support and safety they so vitally need. Being self-isolated in a home with an abusive partner will give women less opportunity to find time away from their perpetrators to seek help and resources safely. This will undoubtedly be intensified by having even less contact with friends and family, and fewer opportunities to access public spaces such as GPs and schools, which often play a significant role in identifying abuse.

Extensive research on domestic violence shows that in times of stress and crises incidents of abuse increase. Speaking to the Huffington Post, Claire Barnett, the executive director for UN Women UK, said “When communities undergo additional stress – from disease, to drought, to their local football team losing a match – rates of violence rise” [4]. The stresses and tensions associated with the requirement to self-isolate, as well as the financial strain that has already been placed on many families as a consequence of the virus, is therefore likely to create an environment where women (and men) are at increased risk of experiencing domestic abuse.

In fact, evidence already suggests that coronavirus has led to a spike in cases of domestic abuse.  In February, local police stations in China saw a threefold increase in domestic violence cases reported compared to the previous year [5].  Domestic violence activists in China claim a vast majority of these cases were related to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Similar trends have started to emerge elsewhere. Over the past weeks the National Domestic Violence Hotline in the United States has had an increased number of callers saying that their abusers are using COVID-19 as a way to further cut them off from their family and friends [6]. And in the UK, Avon and Somerset police have reported that in the last two weeks there has been a 20.9% increase in incidents of domestic abuse [7].

To respond to the rise in domestic abuse cases that we are likely to face and to keep victims safe, it is paramount that the government and authorities see tackling domestic violence as a priority. This includes ensuring all domestic abuse professionals are identified as key workers, so that they can access childcare as they continue to work to support those at risk of violence. They can also ensure that they are considered as part of the COVID-19 contingency planning, enabling provision for staff to be replaced when they find themselves ill or needing to self-isolate. It also crucially includes an immediate increase in funding to support domestic abuse charities and refuges, which are already facing strain due to the effects of austerity cuts.

The coronavirus outbreak highlights to us all the importance of looking out for the most vulnerable people in our society.  As we face the uncertainty of what the next few months may bring for all us, let us be mindful of those whose home is far from a safe sanctuary.

What can you do?

-Be extra vigilant of possible cases of domestic violence. Even though we are being asked to self-isolate in our homes, we don’t have to be cut off from our communities. Use technology to check in on friends and neighbours you may be concerned for.

– Donate. Domestic violence charities will need extra resources to deal with the anticipated increased caseload. You can give to national charities such as Women’s Aid, Refuge or SafeLives, or find and donate to your local domestic abuse charity.

-‘Everyday Allyship’— UN Women UK are setting up an ‘Everyday Allyship’ platform for individuals to share advice on how to be a good ally, access information on your local services and help protect those most vulnerable to domestic abuse. You can keep up to date with that here.

– Prayer. As we continue to pray those affected by the virus, make sure to pray for victims of domestic abuse for whom self-isolation puts them at greater risk of harm. Also pray for wisdom for domestic abuse professionals as they face greater caseloads and navigate doing their job in these unprecedented circumstances.

For more information and support, call the 24hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 247 2000 (calls to this number are free) or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk 

You can find out more information about supporting those experiencing domestic abuse from Restored, an international Christian Alliance that aims to transform relationships and end violence against women (VAW) by working through and with the church and Christians worldwide. You can find their guidance around Coronavirus here.


[ⁱ The real figure is likely to be higher, given the lack of reporting associated with domestic abuse crimes.

Filed Under: COVID-19, Poverty and Inequality

Josie Horton

Previous Post: « How can you self-isolate without a house?
Next Post: Miracles at the hands of others »

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Posts

  • Homes for Ukraine – One Year On
  • Response to the ‘Illegal Migration Bill’ – March 2023
  • Ukraine Invasion – One Year On
  • JPIT’s Review of 2022
  • What does Government Support for Asylum Seekers really provide?
  • God with Us – the Refugees of Calais and Dunkirk
  • How can we respond to COP27?
  • Statement on the conclusion of the COP27 Climate Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
  • COP27 – what should we be looking for?
  • “He has filled the hungry with good things” – What we need from the Autumn Budget
  • What are the stories we should tell about the humanitarian crisis at Manston Airport Asylum centre?
  • How can we be sure that the products we buy are not the result of modern slavery?
  • Why I hate Warm Banks (and why my church is opening one)
  • How does our theology call us to challenge Poverty?
  • Introducing Alfie
  • Biden says nuclear risk is the highest since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
  • Churches respond to risk to benefit levels
  • Briefing on the ‘Mini Budget’ for the Enough to Live group
  • Introducing Hazel
  • Introducing Hannah

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter

Footer

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Quick links

Stay and Pray
Politics in the Pulpit
Faith in Politics podcast
Public Issues Calendar
Useful Links

Our work

About Us
Meet the Team
Join the Team 
Internship
Our Newsletter

Contact us

25 Marylebone Road
London NW1 5JR

Tel: 020 7916 8632

enquiries@jpit.uk

Copyright © 2023 · Showcase Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in