Domestic abuse cases increased during Covid lockdown – Anglican Communion and Mothers’ Union say

High prevalence noted in Uganda, South Africa and Liberia

There has been a sharp increase in incidents of domestic abuse since the global Covid-19 lockdown; a joint submission by the Anglican Consultative Council and the Mothers’ Union to the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights says. In their submission, which was issued in response to the call for evidence by the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, the two organisations outline the experience of Anglican churches around the world.

“Domestic abuse has steadily increased in countries across the Anglican Communion”, they say, “with particularly high prevalence noted in Uganda, South Africa and Liberia. New Zealand alone saw a 21 per cent spike in calls regarding domestic violence or the threat of violence, and Guyana has also seen an increase in gender-based violence, rising from 4-5 reported cases per day, to the current number of 4-5 cases per hour.”

The submission also looks at exemptions from lockdown restrictions for those suffering domestic violence. “In Southern Africa”, it says, “lockdown regulations are structured in such a manner that a women victim can leave her home to report abuse or apply for a court interdict without any fear of intimidation”. In contrast, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, “women must stay at home without exception, but arrangements may be made to transfer her from her home with the abuser into a family member’s home.”

The joint submission from the Anglican Consultative Council and the Mothers’ Union can be read on the webpage of the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations: [ anglicancommunion.org/acoun. ]