Africa: We Must Protect Women From Sexual Violence During Coronavirus Lockdown and Beyond

opinion

Women are often on the frontlines of those most vulnerable during crisis situations. They are targets of gender-based violence (GBV) in war, conflict, economic crises, disasters, pandemics, and in their everyday environments. GBV is a result of systemic inequalities between men and women that pervade all societies. As a survivor of sexual violence, I have used my voice to call out injustice for many years and in all parts of the world. I will use it once again to say that COVID-19 is negatively impacting women globally and we are not doing enough to address it.

We must recognize the threat COVID-19 poses to victims of sexual violence and respond accordingly. Women will fall victim to sexual violence in horrific numbers if we don't act now to put systems in place respond to their needs. Collectively, we need to provide extra support to protect those experiencing domestic violence through specializing training of first responders, additional emergency shelters for survivors, immediate removal of abusers, and increased support for helplines.

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