The United Nations is concerned that prolonged global coronavirus lockdowns may drastically increase cases of domestic violence.
On Tuesday, the body warned that 31 million additional domestic violence cases could occur around the world within a six-month period if strict lockdown policies continue. Data from Johns Hopkins University, which informed the conclusions of the U.N., said that 12 months of the policies could lead to an additional 61 million cases.
“It is a growing crisis within the crisis. We need to pay maximum attention to this now,” Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, deputy director of the United Nations Population Fund, told CBS News.
“Violence at home is on the rise,” Alakbarov added. “Victims and potential victims must be able to access life-saving care and support, even during the lockdown. We cannot forget women and girls during the pandemic. Let’s focus on them.”
In London, police reportedly carried out over 4,000 domestic abuse arrests during the country’s first six weeks of the lockdown, and calls reporting domestic violence rose by a third. Calls received by the United Kingdom’s domestic abuse hotline have also jumped 49%.
“Action is needed during the COVID-19 crisis — both during lockdowns and after them — to prevent and tackle abuse and to support victims, otherwise families and communities will be dealing with those serious consequences for many years,” read a British report published by the country’s Parliament on Monday.
