"Stay home" -What if the house wasn't safe? April 20th 20:22
With the spread of new coronavirus infection, people around the world are waiting for their homes. This is because the inside of the house is a "safe place" where infection can be prevented. But for some, the house is not safe. Concerns are domestic violence, which is increased by staying at home. There are many cases in which vulnerable women and children are affected. (Vienna Bureau / Europe Bureau / International Department)
Concerns about increasing DV: what happened in Austria
In late March, a man was arrested on the outskirts of Vienna, Austria, trying to beat his wife with a weapon. The man is working from home and is believed to have run to crime due to stress.
When I interviewed a women's support group in Vienna, I was able to get a glimpse of the actual situation of DV damage that occurred under restrictions on going out.
About two weeks after the restrictions on going out began, a consultation was received from a woman. The husband has been at home for a long time, and has been escalating DV.
"Cooking is crap", "Drop garbage quickly", "I'm a really bad mother"
Days of constant ranting.
It is a word appealed by women.
"Suddenly snarling. I'm so scared. I'm so scared. I'm in isolation and my DV is getting more serious. I don't know what to do anymore."
A woman who has lost her refuge has been hunted down and her physical condition is getting worse .
"I'm worried about women who shouldn't consult, and ensuring the safety of victims is a big issue," said a representative of the support group, saying that the consultations received were just the tip of the iceberg.
Against this backdrop, the Austrian government is wary of an increase in DV due to restrictions on going out from an early stage, and has announced an increase in the budget for measures.
Increased child abuse: 6-year-old boy dies in France
As with DV between spouses and partners, a concern is child abuse.
Recently in France, a government advertisement has repeatedly appeared on TV. The voice of a child crying from inside the house. A scene where you can hear the loud voice of your mother yelling at it. After that, a call appears, "If you notice a suspicion of abuse, report it."
In late March, an unforgettable incident occurred. About a week after the restrictions on going out began, a 6-year-old boy died in the suburbs of Paris by hitting his head on a table and being hit by his father.
The father said, "I hit the school because I forgot to print it." The local media said, "Maybe the restrictions on going out triggered it."
In France, the number of calls to the government's child abuse counseling / reporting office is increasing, and police are increasing the number of cases that require intervention.
"Yin" pandemic
If the worldwide spread of the new coronavirus is a "pandemic," the DV damage that gradually increases due to its shadow should be called a "shadow" pandemic. That's what the United Nations calls.
Violence is not the only threat to women and children because of fear of infection, tension, and the stress of limited mobility. The impact of the economic downturn is also extremely serious. The UN warns that unemployment and fears of declining incomes will increase violence against vulnerable women and children.
Also, in some countries shelters for victims to evacuate may limit acceptance to prevent the spread of infection, and even if there is damage, there is no place to escape.
The United Nations, especially for children, states that “school closure means losing the“ early detection mechanism ”for child abuse,” and even if there is abuse in the home, it will be aware of it due to protracted leave. I am deeply concerned about the difficulty.
Is there a “surge” or “decrease” in consultation?
A report compiled by the United Nations in April showed that domestic violence has surged since the restrictions on travel in each country began.
▽ France: 30% increase, ▽ Argentina: 25% increase, ▽ Singapore: 33% increase.
In addition, the spread of damage has been confirmed in the United States, Canada, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
However, what is worrisome is that the number of consultations is decreasing in some areas. For example, in Italy, it decreased by 55% in the first two weeks of March. In France, consultations are decreasing in some areas. What does this all mean?
In the United States, where workplaces and schools were closed in the past due to natural disasters and the like, and when the movement of people decreased, in the United States, NPO Katie Ray Jones, an NPO that operates a DV victim support hotline, said: Point out.
"It is hard to say that the number of consultations shown in the table completely reflects the actual situation of DV. There are always violent victims at home, and they monitor every move of the victim. For many of us, it's harder to ask for help outside ourselves. There should be more real victims. ”The
stress of curfew not only increases violence, but the perpetrators are always there. It is said that the victim is not able to access the counseling service, so to speak, it is in a "double pain" state.
"Palm signal" Easy to consult
How can life-threatening people in a supposedly safe home issue SOS without being noticed by the perpetrators?
In each country, devices are being devised to accept consultation not only by phone, but also by chat and mobile phone messages.
In France, the government has made available numbers for people with hearing impairments to victims of child abuse and DV so that they can call them by mobile phone message.
In addition, in order to take advantage of limited opportunities to go out, the victims simply say “mask 19” at the pharmacy, and the salesclerks are called on to help with the report without asking why. An NGO booth was set up.
The Canadian Foundation has devised a "signal for help". No need to speak out, no text to type, all you need is your "palm".
Show your palm with your thumb bent and point at the camera of a computer or smartphone that is connected to someone such as a friend outside your house, and then make a fist. Simply showing this signal tells them they are calling for help.
You may also be the perpetrator
In a stressful environment, you don't know when you will become a perpetrator.
The Austrian DV assailant rehabilitation support group advises:
"First of all, I understand my stress. If I get a sign of clenching my fist, or stomach ache, I go to another room and feel alone. I can take a walk in the neighborhood. And about my partner and the schedule of the day Talk as much as you can, not just what you're doing, just what you plan for the day. "
A French NGO also said that it's important not to hesitate to consult with someone when they are stuck with how to treat their children.
“It's not hard for adults and children to spend 24 hours at home with the whole family. If you feel like raising your hand to a child, just grab the phone and ask for help.”
Japan also
Even in Japan, where the “Emergency Declaration” has been expanded nationwide and calls for refraining from going out and temporary closure of school continue, increasing DV and child abuse is an urgent issue.
The Cabinet Office is entrusting the consultation and temporary protection of DV victims conducted by local governments to private organizations to expand the system.
In addition, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will ask the school to listen to the children on the school day set up during the school holidays and to check the situation through tablet terminals distributed to the children in order to understand the possibility of abuse. Looking for.
A new coronavirus with no signs of ending. There is an urgent need for the national, local government, and society as a whole to find out how to provide the necessary support not only to infected patients and their families, but also to women and children suffering from being unable to speak out at home.
Hiroto Kazu, Director General of Vienna
European Bureau Director,
Akiko Furuyama
International Department Reporter
Mariko Sato
International Department reporter
Midori Aoki