EMERGING evidence on the impact of essential lockdown measures and the economic fallout of the pandemic on gender-based and domestic violence paints a frightening picture with women bearing the brunt of the frustration and anger.
In some areas, there have been reports of women being prevented from seeing doctors and female doctors being spat on while testing other women for Covid-19.
We are seeing surging numbers of emergency calls to helplines — with rises of anything between 25 and 300 per cent, dramatic increases in Internet searches for support for those affected by domestic violence, and higher numbers of domestic homicides. These are disturbing trends, which must not be ignored.
Experience teaches us that women often tend to be at a disadvantage during crises, epidemics and now this pandemic, and that domestic violence tends to increase. In West Africa, 60 per cent of total deaths in the 2014 Ebola outbreak were women. After the Canterbury earthquake in New Zealand, there was a 53 per cent rise in domestic violence.
This is mainly because gender roles and harmful practices, including customs such as early and forced marriage, limit women's access to health services.
Women do three times as much unpaid care work at home compared with men, and make up 70 per cent of workers in the health and social care sectors. They are squarely in infection's path.
During the present Covid-19 pandemic, mass school closures are tending to entrench learning gaps between girls and boys, and putting many more girls at risk of sexual exploitation, early pregnancy or forced marriage.
They also mean that children are unable to report abuse to a trusted teacher. Many victims may find themselves trapped and feeling abandoned.
Mitigating the devastating impacts of this hidden pandemic of domestic violence requires strong and concerted action.
As such, the Commonwealth Secretariat is working alongside partner organisations on measures that will help our 54 member countries stem the rising tide of gender-based violence.
These discussions allowed us to share concerns and ideas conveyed by our member governments, and to outline key considerations for the upcoming ministerial meetings being arranged by the Commonwealth.
It is clear, for example, that an important priority is the provision of basic healthcare to all individuals and communities free of charge at the point of delivery. Urgent action needs to be taken to ensure victims of abuse have access to healthcare, including mental health services.
It is also key that post-Covid-19 strategies include dedicated funding and support for micro, small- and medium-sized businesses and the informal sector, which are predominantly led by women — many of whom need the assurance of financial independence to escape from dangerous domestic situations.
I would lay particular emphasis on the importance at present of creating opportunities through virtual meetings and seminars for Commonwealth countries to share knowledge, resources and experience on how best to navigate through the rapidly evolving processes and circumstances within which we now operate.
Much is being done in our member countries to keep domestic violence shelters open during the outbreak.
Some governments have provided additional resourcing and funding to organisations supporting victims, so they can upscale operations and continue providing services in a safe manner. Other useful innovations such as virtual hearings and legal advice are allowing survivors to continue to access justice.
Sadly, children living in violent homes not only witness violence but may themselves suffer abuse. Violence in the home is one of the most pervasive human rights challenges of our time. So the Commonwealth collectively stands ready to bring the power of its advocacy and support to the planned UN Declaration on Women and Covid-19.
Research from the Commonwealth project, "The Economic Cost of Violence against Women and Girls in The Seychelles", carried out last year before the pandemic, shows that gender-based violence leads to estimated costs of 4.625 per cent of gross domestic product.
We will also hold a virtual follow-up session to the Women Affairs Ministerial Meeting that was held last September to set out an action plan to support women and girls during the Covid-19 crisis because we simply cannot allow victims of domestic abuse and gender-based violence to feel trapped and helpless during this hidden parallel pandemic.
The writer is the secretary-general of the Commonwealth
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times