There are many priorities that the government is struggling to deal with in these unprecedented times and the affect of social distancing and self-isolation on those subjected to abuse had been well documented already. We have seen a three fold increase in cases in China.

Whilst the government is organising emergency planning around the health service, food supplies and transport we ask that they don’t forget one of the major issues that (mostly) women will face in this crisis. FiLiA calls on the government to take certain measures with extreme urgency – Lives are at risk due to the perpetrators of violence against women as well.

1.      Ensure all professionals in the violence against women sector are considered as part of contingency planning, helping local specialist services (especially those working with black and minority ethnic communities) to replace loss of capacity as staff find themselves ill or in isolation.

2.      Include Violence against women sector professionals as key workers so that they can access childcare as they continue to work to support those who may be facing serious harm or murder.

3.      Support for full range of specialist support services that women and children will need to access – showing how together these all form critical national infrastructure for vulnerable people. This means a Coordinated Community Response that we know is the most effective way to deal effectively with violence against women.

4.      Increasing funding to the national domestic abuse and rape crisis helplines including expanding online access to support services for victims and perpetrators.

5.      Production of Public Health England guidance for statutory agencies on how to support abuse victims and child victims who are self-isolating or otherwise endangered by the current pandemic.

6.      Immediate cash injection of funding to support violence against women charities through this period who may be experiencing a doubling of calls, or more, in line with other public health emergencies and initial evidence coming from China.

7.      Refuges to be given access to testing kits to help identify the virus early, so that they can isolate those who tested positive. We know many victims will suffer from chronic conditions and reduced immune system, so they should be seen as a vulnerable group.

8.      A reiteration from Government that the Police and Border Agency will not be allowed to use the pandemic to downgrade domestic abuse or sexual violence or as a means of immigration surveillance and control.

We know that women will be disproportionately affected by this crisis, we need the government to be proactive in ensuring support is available should they need it.

Sisterhood and solidarity.

By SJ

Updated on March 20th: the Government have confirmed this morning that domestic abuse workers are included on the list of ‘key workers’ for the purposes of schools and childcare.

Link to further blog on COVID-19: How Can You Self-Isolate Safely if the Danger Is at Home?