UN Chief Appeals for ‘Peace at Home’ to Protect Women During Lockdown

World

April 6th, 8:27am

Asharq Al-Awsat

FILE PHOTO: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, February 24, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has appealed for “peace at home,” urging governments to include the protection of women in their response to the deadly novel coronavirus pandemic after reports of domestic violence have surged globally in the wake of massive lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of the disease. "Violence is not confined to the battlefield," said Guterres in a statement and video released in multiple languages, days after his call for a worldwide ceasefire in the wake of the outbreak. "For many women and girls, the threat looms largest where they should be safest. In their own homes," he said. “And so I make a new appeal today for peace at home — and in homes — around the world.” Describing the rise in domestic violence as "horrifying," he urged all governments "to make the prevention and redress of violence against women a key part of their national response plans for COVID-19." Tunisia recently set up a free mental health helpline to support families following a spike in domestic abuse linked to the lockdown. More than 40 cases involving abused women were recorded between March 23 and 29, compared to just seven during the same week in 2019, Asma Shiri Laabidi, the minister in charge of women's affairs, said. India reported double the usual number of domestic abuse cases in the first week of nationwide movement restrictions, according to the country's National Commission for Women. Cases in France rose by a third in the week after that country's lockdown, authorities said, while Australia reported a 75 percent increase in internet searches relating to support for domestic violence victims. Guterres called for setting up emergency warning systems in pharmacies and groceries, and for safe ways "for women to seek support, without alerting their abusers." "Together, we can and must prevent violence everywhere, from war zones to people's homes, as we work to beat COVID-19," he said.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2219186/un-chief-appeals-%E2%80%98peace-home%E2%80%99-protect-women-during-lockdown