Pandemics and Violence against Women and Children

The regional and global nature of pandemics and associated fear and uncertainty provide an enabling environment, which may exacerbate or spark diverse forms of violence against women and children.  In the COVID-19 outbreak, there are already reports from Australia, Brazil, China and the United States that suggest an increase in violence against women and children. Unequal gender relations and patriarchal norms are important causes of violence against women and children, and these have the potential to further magnify and modify risk and protective factors during times of crises. 

The paper makes some recommendations on policy and programmatic interventions to address violence against women and children while countries respond to pandemics. 

https://www.cgdev.org/sites/default/files/pandemics-and-vawg-april2.pdf