EDITORIAL: Must protect families
WITH the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to wreak havoc on the world in numerous ways, including shutting down economies and putting numerous people on the breadline, it is also having an impact on family life.
Many have expressed concern in recent times that the movement restrictions imposed across the world, which are aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19, could be resulting in an increase in violence in the home and putting the lives of numerous persons at greater risk. If this proves to be true, then we can have a much bigger problem on our hands in the weeks and months to come, should restrictions continue in the same way.
In a number of countries, reports are that domestic violence is indeed on the rise, with several reports of abuse being made to hotlines, but not law enforcement. So serious is the situation that the United Nations’ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, earlier this month, called for measures to be implemented to address the violence in the homes and a ceasefire on that front. His concern about family violence was echoed by the Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who noted that the current situation was a “perfect storm for controlling violent behaviour behind closed doors”.
In fact, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has predicted that there will be millions more cases of domestic violence across the world this year because of the coronavirus lockdowns, and described the domestic violence infection as a shadow pandemic alongside COVID-19. That research done by the UNFPA also spoke of women and girls losing the ability to plan their families and protect their health and bodies in these times. It predicted that 44 million women in 114 low- and middle-income countries will not be able to get their hands on contraceptives, resulting in as many as one million unintended pregnancies, should the lockdown last another three months.
These predictions should make us realise just how far and wide the tentacles of COVID-19 can stretch and impress on those in authority – be it government, health personnel or law enforcement – to do their part to protect the lives of the most vulnerable. While the figures relative to domestic abuse in Barbados are not as forthcoming as in other countries, it is safe to say this scourge is also impacting our households. We have seen over the years deaths that have been or can be attributed to domestic violence and it would not serve us any good to bury our heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich, and hope for the best.
Especially at this time, the State must take the lead and send a strong message to abusers and potential abusers, that such behaviour will not be tolerated. Those who live in this country must also do the same and stop turning a blind eye to the problem. Too often we use the excuse that it is a private matter to be dealt with behind closed doors, but the truth of the matter is that it is not; it cannot be when it impacts the very core of our society.
Domestic violence is a crime and a human rights violation that impacts families physically and psychologically. It means then that when we fail to speak out against it, we condone the actions of the perpetrators and basically give them the green light to continue with their abuse.
One life lost to domestic violence, is one life too many and the potential for loss of life is even greater now in these trying times. With the likelihood that tensions are high and rage is soaring, it is imperative that public messages are disseminated to discourage this behaviour and also to let those being abused or at risk of being abused, know what they can do to ease the situation or more importantly escape, even in this state of lockdown.