"As Puerto Rico tries to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the island’s population has been placed under lockdown, forcing residents to stay home until March 30. But home isn’t safe for everyone. For women who are experiencing gender-based violence, a mandatory lockdown traps them with their abusers, giving them less opportunities to escape physical and verbal abuse." |
"Vilma González Castro, executive director of the Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer , maintained that social displacement control measures to prevent contagion by the coronavirus COVID-19 place victims and survivors -practically- under the control of the aggressor, it could use the emergency situation as a power and control tool. "Families will be even more stressed with job loss, schools closed and the reality of this disease," he said of those elements that usually tend to be triggers in relationships nuanced by violence." |
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"A woman in Philadelphia was planning to leave her abusive partner. But the coronavirus spread, workplaces shut down, and everyone’s been told to stay home. Now, the woman doesn’t have the financial resources to get out, and she’s stuck at home with her abuser. So she’s employing an in-home safety plan, according to her domestic violence counselor, Donnell Reid: In an explosive situation, try not to run into small rooms with hard floors. Stay out of the kitchen, where there might be weapons. Keep kids on a different floor, away from the abuser, if you can." |
"Domestic violence experts anticipate that rates and severity of abuse will surge as public officials and communities try to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus through imposing restrictions or asking individuals to “social distance” or “self-isolate.” While these measures are unlikely to turn anybody into an abuser, people who already have violent partners will now be trapped at home with them — and facing the anxiety of losing their jobs and incomes, which also tends to increase the possibility of domestic violence." |
"Around the world, as cities have gone into lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus, the mass efforts to save lives have put one vulnerable group more at risk. Women and children who live with domestic violence have no escape from their abusers during quarantine, and from Brazil to Germany, Italy to China, activists and survivors say they are already seeing an alarming rise in abuse..." |
"School closures due to coronavirus in West Africa risk exposing girls to sexual violence and unwanted pregnancy, experts said on Thursday, basing the warning on past experience with Ebola. Activists said countries should take preventative measures now, such as reinforcing sexual violence hotlines, making public announcements about the penalties for rape and using technology to help teachers keep in contact with students..." |
New York State Domestic Violence Hotlines Your local hotline can provide you with information on domestic violence resources in your community. For the hotline number of your local domestic violence program, call the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline at 1-800-942-6906, English & español/Multi-language Accessibility. Deaf or Hard of Hearing: 711 In NYC: 1-800-621-HOPE (4673) or dial 311 TDD: 1-800-810-7444 For a listing of domestic violence hotlines by county, go to the New York State Domestic Violence Directory |
SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Visit the SAMHSA or Call 1-800-985-5990 or Text TalkWithUs to 66746 |
The Women's Attorney's Office or la Oficina de la Procuradora de las Mujeres protects the human rights of women against domestic and sexual violence. The Office provides assistance to women in Puerto Rico who have been victims of these types of abuses. Call 787-722-2977 (24/7) Llama a la línea de Orientación Confidencial (27/7) al 787-722-2977 |