Report on domestic violence in Russia in the period of the pandemic sent to the Council of Europe

Seven public organizations sent the Council of Europe report on domestic violence in the context of COVID-19 in Russia.

participated In the training “Area law”, ANNA Centre of assistance for victims of domestic violence, a Consortium of Women’s non-governmental Associations, “Legal Initiative”, “You’re not alone” (a Network of mutual assistance among women), the center of the “Sisters” and the Center “Kitezh”.

the report says that in spring the governments of most member countries of the Council of Europe independently sent to Strasbourg a report on measures to combat domestic violence in the context of quarantine, from Russia such a report is still there.

meanwhile, as noted in the study, the most affected by the pandemic and the response of States to it was the most vulnerable and marginalized groups. They are also harder to get help: call the police, to find shelter and even to leave the house.

the authors of the report stress that the pandemic has clearly demonstrated that the absence in Russia of an integrated approach to prevent domestic violence and protect victims from it puts women at greater risk and restricts the exercise of their rights.

In many regions of Russia in order to protect lives adopted a set of measures, including a mandatory withdrawal, the report said. “Many families are trapped in their often very small apartments. Despite the fact that usually the house is considered to be safe places, especially in difficult times, for some, on the contrary, the house became a place where it was very dangerous,” say the authors.

in early April, the UN Secretary-General, antónio Guterres, said that “many women in strict isolation due to COVID19 faced with violence, where they must be in full security in their own homes”. He also noted the surge of domestic violence in many countries.

According to the center for ANNA, in the period of Samothraceand increased the number of calls to their hotline from March through may received more than 8.5 thousand calls. 69.5% of women calling the hotline, said that during the isolation situation at home worsened. Moreover, 3.8% of women said that they had the first time incidents of domestic violence occurred in the period of strict isolation.

Stories about how you tried to get help from the Russian state in terms of coronaries and what came of it, email it to COVID-19@rosbalt.ru