COVID-19 and Domestic Violence: A Possible Public Health Crisis

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown to mitigate the spread of the pandemic has led to social isolation, reduced social support system and increased cases of domestic violence against women. The United Nations and other international and national agencies speculate further increase in it and have suggested governments to take appropriate action to safeguard the health and human rights of women. Many governments have also taken steps and working towards it by starting helpline and counselling services. This article reviews the concerns raised by these agencies, interventions introduced and its future implications. It also argues that apart from reported cases of domestic violence and its negative consequences on individuals and families, it would be interesting to study the positive impact of living together as this pandemic is different from other emergencies. The sociologist Marianne Hester argued that ‘domestic violence goes up whenever families spend more time together’. It would be interesting to study and examine it in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. This article also suggests the need for further research to understand the reason and dynamics of such violence considering men and women both are engaged in such violence against each other and bear its consequences together.

In the past few months, there have been reports of increasing domestic violence in the print and electronic media linking it up with the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and subsequent lockdown in many countries. Apart from the cases reported in the media and to other agencies, an increase in the domestic violence cases have been reported globally, especially from China, the United Kingdom, the United States, Brazil, France and Australia, since the COVID-19 outbreak (Campbell, 2020; Godin, 2020; WHO, 2020a; Women’s Aid UK, 2020; UN Women, 2020a, 2020b). Globally 243 million women and girls aged 15–49 years have been subjected to sexual and/or physical violence perpetrated by an intimate partner in the previous 12 months. The number is likely to increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic as security, health and money worries and strains are accentuated by cramped and confined living conditions. Emerging data show that since the outbreak of COVID-19, violence against women and girls (VAWG), particularly domestic violence, has intensified. UN Women (2020a) reports 30 per cent increase in the cases of domestic violence in France since March 17 lockdown; in Cyprus and Singapore, helplines have registered an increase in calls by 30 and 33 per cent, respectively and in Argentina emergency calls for domestic violence cases have increased by 25 per cent since March 20 lockdown. Besides, increased cases of domestic violence and demand for emergency shelters have also been reported from Canada, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

With more countries undergoing lockdown to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the danger of another public health crisis, domestic violence, is becoming apparent (Magnus & Stasio, 2020; Simonovic, 2020). Countries have responded by starting online support, web counselling, WhatsApp helpline, telephonic counselling services, etc. to help the victim of such violence. It seems to be a timely and good preventive step that may lead to adverse health and mental health outcomes, including a higher risk of anxiety, stress, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and risky sexual behaviour such as sexually transmitted infections, HIV, unplanned pregnancies and substance use behaviours (Abramson, 2020; WHO, 2020a). The World Health Organization, United Nations, American Psychological Association and other agencies have speculated that the pandemic may increase domestic violence, asked governments to ‘put women’s safety first as they respond to the pandemic’ and suggested resources that can help (Abramson, 2020; UN, 2020; WHO, 2020a).

The pandemic has created anxiety among people leading to fear, financial concerns, insecurity, loss of a job, etc., which has its own behavioural and psychological manifestation and may lead to stress, altercations, fight, conflict, anger and violence. Besides, the lockdown has increased the burden on women to cook, feed and take care of household chores and family members who are at home. The closure of schools has further exacerbated this burden and place more stress on them (Mukhtar, 2020; UN, 2020; WHO, 2020b). Women in abusive relationships may be more likely to be exposed to violence, as are their children, as family members spend more time in close contact, and families cope with additional stress and potential economic or job losses (WHO, 2020b). Young women and girls are at higher risk of intimate partner violence and other forms of domestic violence during the pandemic (UN, 2020). Women are closed behind the doors without much-extended help from male members of the family due to strong gender norms and agency like patriarchy (EPW Engage, 2020). Women’s mobility and contact with their family and friends have been restricted due to lockdown, physical and social distancing which may provide support and protection from violence (WHO, 2020b). In many countries, lockdown means limited access to the outside world than usual which will have a drastic impact on their ability to seek help (Vincent, 2020). In such a situation, it is not uncommon for people who are forced to live inside their homes against their will to become a victim of domestic violence and react differently in an unusual way.

Domestic violence is not new, pervasive globally and it would be wrong to deny the chances of an increase in violence against women during the pandemic. The timely concern and speculations of a rise in domestic violence expressed by various agencies working on women and violence issues are good initiatives to alert the State and its agencies to take proactive action towards prevention to address this issue, creating more demand and greater need for services (Haneef & Kalyanpur, 2020; Lancet, 2020; UN Women, 2020c). The data regarding domestic violence during the pandemic are still scarce and we do not know the real percentage of incidence of such cases. Many organisations and agencies are taking important initiatives to collect information, provide guidance and raise awareness about the specific impact of the pandemic and its consequences on women. Agencies and NGOs have reported that they are receiving more calls comparing the non-pandemic period (Konokkara, 2020). But it is not clear whether these calls are related to violence or other forms of help such as from where to get food, medicines and other essential items during the lockdown. Like men, women too are in distress and looking for a mechanism through which they can express their fear, feelings and apprehensions. In the first week after the countrywide lockdown was imposed in India, between March 23 and 30, the National Commission for Women (NCW) received 214 complaints, out of which only 58 were cases of domestic violence (Bose, 2020). In Delhi, the national capital of India, it is interesting to note that the NCW reported an increase in cases of domestic violence during the lockdown whereas the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) reported a decline in the number of calls pertaining to domestic violence and crimes against women during the lockdown (NDTV, 2020). In India, some states have reported a decline in complaints while others have reported an increase in the calls received by helplines. An analysis of reported cases recorded across the country shows that the incidence of domestic violence during the lockdown depends on the ability of victims to make complaints while they share domestic spaces with perpetrators (Ratnam, 2020). This may be true. However, what is happening inside the home needs further research to understand the pandemic’s impact on women.

Domestic violence affects both men and women where both are equally violent. In such a scenario, the reported cases picture one side of the story presenting women as weaker sex vulnerable to domestic violence where men are perpetrators and women are victims. It also raises a concern about gender bias in reporting of domestic violence cases from a feminist perspective, sidelining men issues. Although in the absence of population-based estimates before and after COVID-19 lockdowns, existing reports are invaluable alternatives, indicating an upswing in violence re-victimisation globally (Halim, 2020; Nicola et al., 2020), and it would be early to extrapolate or link such reported cases directly with the COVID-19 pandemic only.

There are studies that show that during the war, emergencies and other similar situations, women are more vulnerable and become a victim of violence. But we need to understand that this pandemic is different from other emergencies in which everyone is equally vulnerable, irrespective of class, socio-economic status and gender. So, we need to be cautious in equating and extrapolating this situation with other emergencies.

Apart from reported cases of domestic violence and its negative consequences on individual and families, it would be interesting to study the positive impact of living together where family members are spending quality time together; parents are giving their quality time to their children; listening to each other and sharing their fear, anxiety and concerns which often strengthen family bonding and attachment (Magnus & Stasio, 2020). It needs further research to understand the reason and dynamics of such violence considering men and women both are engaged in such violence against each other and bear its consequences together.

The governments’ response and initiatives to the concerns raised about the increasing domestic violence are appreciable amidst the pandemic. It is hoped that it will help to safeguard the health and human rights of women victims of violence and mitigate the negative impacts and consequences of the pandemic. Nevertheless, the responses are limited and not adequate to cover every woman. The government needs an aggressive nationwide campaign to promote awareness about domestic violence through news channels, radio and social media platforms. There is a need to engage NGOs, civil society, public health departments, psychologists and allied mental health professionals, and University Departments of psychology, to come forward to fill this gap. The governments need to formally integrate domestic violence and mental health repercussions into the public health preparedness and emergency response plans against the pandemic COVID-19.