COVID-19 and Domestic Violence: When Home Isn’t a Safe Place

By Jossie Warnant

Over the recent weeks, the plea to stay home has flooded our social media feeds, television screens and just about every news outlet. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re fully aware of the importance of social distancing, remaining at home and washing your hands. This is a vital time for curbing the spread of COVID-19, so it’s imperative that everyone heed the advice of authorities and stay home. 

But for many, home is not a safe place. 

In Australia, we have already seen an escalation in the rate of domestic violence calls. A recent Women’s Safety NSW survey reported that 40% of support workers are experiencing increases in requests for assistance. 

During the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in Hubei Province, advocacy groups urged the government to take domestic violence more seriously as the number of reported domestic violence cases tripled, in comparison to the previous year.  

Incidents of domestic violence perpetrators using the coronavirus to threaten and coerce women have already occurred. There have been cases where perpetrators have told their partners they have the virus and therefore they cannot leave the house. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is creating a perfect storm of fear and isolation that is increasing the risks that women face everyday from domestic violence. 

According to the UN, less than 40 percent of women who experience violence seek help. COVID-19 is placing limitations on women’s access to helplines and social support, making reporting domestic violence even more challenging. COVID-19 also means that police and health care workers are overwhelmed and understaffed, making it more difficult to provide assistance to those who do report domestic violence incidents. Existing family issues have been exacerbated due to challenges associated with COVID-19, including financial instability, job loss and reduced access to essential services. 

Self-isolation due to COVID-19 is enabling and escalating patterns of abuse. Separation from friends, family and employment, constant surveillance and restrictions on access to basic necessities are all made easier for abusers during a pandemic. 

On Monday, UN chief António Guterres called for governments to address this “horrifying global surge in domestic violence”. 

In Australia, the government has recognised the significant risk posed by the coronavirus to women experiencing domestic violence. The Morrison government announced that it is providing $150 million to boost existing programs. This includes counselling, 1800RESPECT and Mensline. 

Sadly, the substantial rise in domestic violence cases is not surprising and should have been anticipated. Existing evidence has already shown that domestic violence rates peak during festive periods, school holidays and sporting events when people are most likely to be at home. 

Whilst the government's additional funding will be vital to assisting victims of domestic violence in this time, the delay in putting these measures in place means that unnecessary harm has already been done. 

At this point, when it is unclear how long social distancing measures will remain in place, the government must do more to protect people experiencing domestic violence. 

In an attempt to keep prison populations low to prevent outbreaks of COVID-19, domestic violence defendants are being granted bail by the courts. Offenders are being released into the community, in a time when their victims are in situations of extreme isolation and vulnerability. The NSW government has attempted to address this issue by notifying victims in instances where their alleged abuser has been released on bail. But this misses the central issue. Domestic violence defendants are still being released on bail under these new arrangements and they shouldn’t be. 

The government also needs to further reinforce safe drinking practices. We are seeing a rise in stockpiling of alcohol and drinking at home as a result of COVID-19. With 36.2% of domestic violence assaults being alcohol related, it is important that safe and responsible drinking is encouraged. 

We need to find creative ways for victims to seek assistance without alerting their abuser. The UN has suggested that emergency warning systems be set up in pharmacies and grocery stores so that women can discreetly access support without being detected.

The government must maintain continued focus on those experiencing domestic violence during this pandemic, and must recognise that simply providing more funding to existing services is not enough to protect women and children.