Rates of domestic, family violence increase in a crisis like Covid-19. But people and communities can still support those at risk

哈利法克斯审查员提供所有Covid-19免费覆盖。

留在家里让我们许多人免受Covid-19的安全，但也增加了对现在的妇女和儿童的暴力风险更频繁地与滥用者更常见。

在有锁定的国家或社会隔离措施到位的国家，全世界都飙升了家庭暴力的速度。据湾飞，荆州的反家庭暴力非营利创始人，湖北省一个城市，在该市的一家派出所，the rates of domestic violence were three times higher this Februarythan rates in February 2019.

In a survey sent by Women’s Safety NSWto 400 frontline workers across New South Wales, Australia, 40% of workers reported increases in pleas for help, while 70% said current cases were becoming more complex.

France’s interior minister sayscases of domestic violence have increased by 30% since the country locked down on March 17. In Paris, cases of domestic violence were up by 36%.

Still, there are ways to keep women and children safe and connected, even as most of us stay at home.

The program did some work in Nova Scotia at least 10 years ago. Its researchers are based at the University of Western Ontario and they work with employers on how they can help assist employees facing abuse. Barb MacQuarrie is the community director at the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women & Children at the university.

MacQuarrie says it’s important to stay connected with the women who may be experiencing abuse at home. That’s tougher now since we are all practicing social isolation or social distancing. Still, MacQuarrie says we can stay connected through social media or phone calls.

Our whole message is helping people feel less isolated and we need to do what we can to reach out to them. This is a whole new barrier for us.

Isolation is already an issue facing those women being abused. Anything and all we can do to break through that will increase safety. Just because we don’t have the same face-to-face contact anymore, we still need to stay connected.

MacQuarrie says domestic violence does increase during times of crisis like natural disasters. A crisis like Covid-19 means abusers don’t have the control over their victims.

Obviously, these are uncertain times and none of us have control, so someone who struggles with control can lash out at someone.

For women in situations of domestic violence, even using the phone can be dangerous.

It will be harder to have privacy and to get away.

MacQuarrie suggests people who stay in touch with these women use codes rather than talk specifically about situations. Phrases like, “it’s going to storm tomorrow” or “I’m picking up milk at the store” can be signals between a woman who’s being abused and someone who wants to help. Only those people talking will understand those codes.

MacQuarrie says shelters for these women may be struggling now, but they are still open to women who need them. (On Friday, the province宣布$200,000 in support to transition houses.) MacQuarrie says one of the best ways to support women experiencing domestic violence now is to support local shelters.

我不希望人们认为的最后一件事是他们不可用。这根本不是真的。他们可能需要帮助获取消息。

Nova Scotia的过渡房屋仍在危机中运作危机的妇女，而工作人员则遵循公共卫生的议定书。在哈利法克斯的Bryony House诺尔顿，博尔顿过渡屋协会或新斯科舍省过渡室协会中没有人代表全省的几个庇护所，返回审查员的呼叫，但在Facebook页面上留下了关于服务的消息。在新斯科舍伞的过渡室协会下的所有避难所仍在运营和向女性提供服务。根据its post on its Facebook page, all of its transition houses face increased costs because of the need for more staff and cleaning and sanitizing products. Rural communities have a greater shortage of such supplies. Financial donations are welcome.

布罗尼屋is still answering its distress line and offering shelter to those women experiencing intimate partner violence. It’s also using social distancing and self-isolation practices that are aligned with current public and safety guidelines.

The Cape Breton Transition House Association说它不接受衣服，食物或玩具的捐赠，因为它正在练习社会疏远。其外展计划和支持小组持有，但工作人员通过电话和电话会议联系客户。庇护所仍然是开放和在大流行计划下工作，但协会正在筛查具有新招生的病毒。

MacQuarrie adds that by following public health protocols about social distancing, we’re also helping first responders, who will have to take calls when women need to flee situations of domestic violence.

家庭中的每个人都面临着Covid-19这样危机暴力的风险。一位与社区服务部的发言人Lynette Macleod表示，如果您怀疑虐待或被忽视，那么始终有责任报告。可以直接拨打到部门或1-866-922-2434。通过电子邮件说Macleod：

Child protection remains an essential service, and all Community Services offices are operational. Our partners — like Family Resources Centres, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Youth Outreach programs — remain available across the province to provide prevention and intervention supports through online and phone contact, virtual supports, and provision of household and personal supplies as needed. Another excellent resource for youth in need of support is the Kids Help Phone, 1-800-668-6868, which is available 24/7 via phone or text.

alec stratford., the executive director and registrar with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers, says families are often resilient and develop coping mechanisms and safe communication. But those skills are challenged in a crisis, so they are looking for new ways to cope.

这对家庭和孩子们限制在家里的孩子来说。地面上有很多适应和灵活性。

Stratford says social workers are keeping in touch with clients through phone calls and telework, all of which he says were in place before the COVID-19 crisis. Stratford says one of the biggest concerns for families and the increase of family violence is the loss of income many families are experiencing now and the lack of labour standards around sick leave and other supports. Stratford says those loss of supports can be challenging for families who are now all at home together. Add to that the lack of other supports and safe spaces like daycares and schools, which are safe spaces for children who face abuse and neglect at home.

Can you imagine all the stress a family is facing in this?

如果你看到有人挣扎，抵制判断的冲动。找到一些同情并询问你可以做些什么来帮助。在电话上说。让他们杂货。我们必须变得更加富有同情心和彼此的感情。

麦Quarrie同意。

I wouldn’t underestimate the importance of that human contact. Whatever we can do to make sure they know there is an actual caring person there, let’s do that. We’re all in this together.

Resources:

Neighbours, Friends and Families

布罗尼屋

Transition House Association of Nova Scotia

爱丽丝之家

Cape Breton Transition House Association

儿童帮助电话（可通过电话或文字） - 1-800-668-6868

Department of Community Services,Child Abuse reporting— Phone: 902-742-0700; after business hours — 1-866-922-2434

妇女和儿童的Adsum房子

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