Who would think that will all the awful news and inconveniences of the COVID-19 Crisis; we would also have to be mindful that Domestic Violence / Family Violence seems to be on the rise.
How do we know this?"Domestic Violence Hotline Calls Rise 52% In Alaska." Excerpts from this Article Include: "ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Domestic violence and sexual assault organizations in Alaska have experienced a 52% increase in hotline calls as residents remain at home amid the coronavirus pandemic, a study said.
"In that time period, shelter capacity was reduced by 57% to comply with federal social distancing guidelines, meaning some shelters limited one person to a room instead of four, the study said.
"A Pandemic within a Pandemic: Intimate Partner Violence During Covid-19"
Excerpts from this Article Include: "Domestic-violence hotlines prepared for an increase in demand for services as states enforced these mandates, but many organizations experienced the opposite. In some regions, the number of calls dropped by more than 50%.1 Experts in the field knew that rates of IPV had not decreased, but rather that victims were unable to safely connect with services. Though restrictions on movement have been lifted in most regions, the pandemic and its effects rage on, and there is widespread agreement that areas that have seen a drop in caseloads are likely to experience a second surge. This pandemic has reinforced important truths: inequities related to social determinants of health are magnified during a crisis, and sheltering in place does not inflict equivalent hardship on all people.
"Study Finds Rise In Domestic Violence During Covid-19"
Excerpts from this Article Include: "X-ray evidence points to pandemic lockdowns triggering a surge in cases of domestic violence.
"The scans identified 26 patients with injuries consistent with either superficial wounds or serious abuse.
""For many women and girls," he added, "the threat looms largest where they should be safest, in their own homes.""
"Early Numbers Suggest Domestic Violence Homicides May Be On The Rise."
Excerpts from this Article Include: "In two major counties, preliminary data shows domestic violence homicides are already twice 2019 totals—with nearly all occurring since the pandemic began." "In Memphis, Milwaukee and Jefferson Parish, a New Orleans suburb, domestic violence homicides had equaled or surpassed last year’s total by Oct.13, NBC News found. In Tarrant County, Texas — home to Fort Worth — they had more than doubled.
"“There is probably a vast number of victims that aren't coming forward because they don't know where to look, or the system — maybe they try it on their own and it's very confusing, and they give up.”"
"Family Violence and Covid-19: Increased Vulnerability and Reduced Options for Support."
Excerpts from this Article Include: "Family violence during pandemics is associated with a range of factors including economic stress, disaster-related instability, increased exposure to exploitative relationships, and reduced options for support (Peterman et al. 2020)."
"Social isolation exacerbates personal and collective vulnerabilities while limiting accessible and familiar support options (van Gelder et al. 2020). In many countries, including Australia, we have already seen an increase in demand for domestic violence services and reports of increased risk for children not attending schools (Duncan, 2020), a pattern similar to previous episodes of social isolation associated with epidemics and pandemics (Boddy, Young &
O’Leary 2020). In Australia, as stay-at-home orders came into force, the police in some parts of the country reported a 40% drop in crime overall, but a 5% increase in domestic abuse call-outs (Kagi 2020). At the same time in Australia, Google reported a 75% increase in Internet searches relating to support for domestic abuse (Poate 2020).
This pattern is repeated internationally. Reports of domestic abuse and family violence have increased around the world since social isolation and quarantine measures came into force. Recently, anecdotal evidence from the United States, China, Brazil, and Australia indicates increases in intimate partner, women, and children violence due to isolation and quarantine (Campbell 2020; Peterman et al. 2020; van Gelder et al. 2020). China, the first country to impose mass quarantine in the Wuhan province, saw reported domestic abuse incidents rise threefold in February 2020 compared to the previous year (Allen-Ebrahimian 2020). As Europe imposed quarantine measures in an effort to slow the tide of infection, the Italian government began commissioning hotels to provide shelter to the increasing number of people fleeing abusive situations (Davies & Batha 2020). Similarly, France reported a 32% - 36% increase in domestic abuse complaints following the implementation of self-isolation and quarantine measures (Reuters News Agency 2020).
France also began commissioning hotels as shelters for those fleeing abuse. As quarantine measures extended to the United States, individual states reported similar increases in domestic abuse incidents ranging from 21% to 35% (Wagers 2020). Back in Europe, the UK has also seen concerns about increase in family violence (Bradbury-Jones & Isham 2020). There have been reports of homicide associated with family violence in several countries (Bradbury-Jones & Isham 2020; Reuters News Agency 2020). The National Domestic Abuse Hotline in the UK saw a 25% increase in calls since stay-at-home measures were implemented (Kelly & Morgan 2020), recording at least eight family violence-related deaths (Knowles 2020)."
"The number of domestic abuse cases has increased dramatically since the UK's Covid lockdown - and tech has played a role.
Smart speakers, tracking apps and key-logging software are among products that have made it easier for perpetrators to maintain control of victims and continue abuse.
Domestic-violence charity Refuge says more than 70% of those it provides support to have reported tech-related abuse within a relationship.
Two people who experienced abuse during the pandemic shared their stories with BBC Click.
They asked to remain anonymous for their own safety.
"When he left the house, that's when I started to see that he was using the Ring doorbell camera to track me," says Kate, who is using a pseudonym. She is referring to Amazon's internet-connected security device. It triggers alerts when it detects motion in front of a home and allows live footage or recordings to be watched from afar.
"I could take the battery out of it if I wanted to, but I didn't feel like I could because he would say to me, 'You're compromising our children's safety'.
"I was worried that he would go to the police and try and suggest that I'm a bad mother."
Another explained how her partner used Amazon's virtual assistant to monitor her via a function that lets users remotely connect to enabled smart speakers and listen/speak via an intercom-like facility.
"He would set up all the accounts," says Sue, who is also using an alias.
"He would set up family-sharing on things. There were various Alexa devices all over the property.
"He could drop in from outside or he could go to someone's house and ring the Alexa when we were at home."
Abuse experienced by men also increased during the pandemic.
The Respect Men's Advice Line reports receiving 5,000 more calls during the start of the UK lockdown than in the same period the year before.
But women are still more likely to experience violence and harassment. Three-quarters of domestic abuse victims recorded by the police last year were female, according to the Office for National Statistics' latest figures."
Does The Corona Virus Impact Whether or Not Someone Reports DV?
"Officials: Crime Reports Affected By Corona-Virus Response." Excerpts from this Article Include: "Stay-at-home orders stemming from the coronavirus response likely have affected the number of burglaries, auto thefts and domestic violence incidents reported in Shelby County and Memphis, officials said."
"Home burglaries dropped by 24% countywide, compared with the first quarter of 2019.
DV On the Streets During COVID-19:
"Pregnant Woman, Baby Killed In Domestic Dispute, Police Say."
"Phoenix Man Kills Wife After She Reports Fight To Police."
"Man Charged With Killing Ex-Girlfriend, 3 Others."
"Details Released in Shooting Death of Travis Highschool Football Coach."
Even the Helpers -- Those who work to Prevent DV, are having to do things differently:
"South Caroline Moved Domestic Violence Ceremony Online."
"Amid Pandemic, Mexico To Cut Funds To Domestic Violence Shelters."
Officials React to DV Crisis amid COVID-19 Crisis:
"UN Chief Urges End to Domestic Violence, Citing Global Surge."
"“For many women and girls, the threat looms largest where they should be safest — in their own homes,” Gutteres said. “And so I make a new appeal today for peace at home — and in homes — around the world.”"
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