As stay at home orders have been put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of domestic violence cases has risen worldwide.
In Australia, there has been a 75% surge in Google searches for domestic violence resources since the shutdown of non-essential services. Women’s support services such as Women’s Safety in New South Wales State report that 40% of their workers have seen an increase in domestic violence cases, a third of which are linked to the pandemic. The Australian Government has pledged a A$150 million boost in funding that will be spent on telephone support services for both domestic violence survivors and abusers.
The Advocates for Human Rights is closely monitoring the new challenges justice systems actors are facing in addressing domestic violence and sexual violence under the coronavirus situation and providing accurate, up-to-date information on violence against women around the world. Learn more at https://buff.ly/37xbPWf. If you or a loved one is in need of help, call the Day One Hotline at 1-866-223-1111, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or the StrongHearts Native Helpline at 1-844-762-8483.