Covid-19 and Domestic Violence

Your home should be a the safest place on earth - yet for many people this is not the case.  According to the World Health Organisation, 35% of women worldwide experience abuse by an intimate partner. Then are the children, 25%, with the elderly at 10% .

    If you feel unsafe at home during lockdown, consider the following:

1. Plan a safety route out of your house, to get away from immediate danger. Can you unlock doors in an emergency situation?

1. If  you have access to a car - it can be your neighbour’s  - make sure you keep a set of keys at hand. Run to the car - lock yourself inside.

1. Try to identify a space - no matter how small - that could become a hiding place and/or panic room the existence of which is only known to you.

1. Create a weapon-free zone(s) by removing anything that can be used as a weapon against you, especially knives.

1. Do not wear anything that could easily be turned into a weapon: your belt, necklace, scarf, earrings.

1. Create a signal or code for ‘help’ that your family, friends and neighbours will recognise as a cry for help.

1. Programme your phone with shortcuts to quickly ring family, friends and neighbours.

1. Keep your phone with you, in your pocket, all the time to call/text for help.

1. Stock up on health essentials - especially medicines - at friends/relatives/neighbours’ home.

1. Do not turn the other cheek. Report any abuse to police at once!

Remember that shelters for victims of domestic violence stay open, even during pandemics. You are NOT alone. There are caring people in the world waiting to hear from you because they genuinely care for your safety and wellbeing.

“SUPPRESS CORONA, NOT YOUR VOICE”