The latest report that has been released by the United Nations (UN) confirms that violence against women has worsened due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Violence against women (VAW) is a human rights violation, with often destructive outcomes. At the hands of intimate partners, family members, or others, women around the world experience violence in various forms, settings, levels of frequency, and severity.
This study for Violence Against Women was led by United Women (UN) in partnership with Ipsos. Support was also lent by national statistical offices, national women’s machineries, and a technical advisory group of experts to guide the overall survey process.
The survey of Rapid Gender Assessment was conducted on the impact of COVID-19 on violence against women in (VAW RGAs) 13 countries. These were selected based on regional diversity, with priority given to low-middle income countries implementing related UN Women programs. The VAW RGAs were implemented in Albania, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Nigeria, Paraguay, Thailand, and Ukraine.
The Report’s Findings are as follows:
Since the pandemic, violence against women has increased.
- 45% of women reported that they or w woman they know had experienced a form of VAW since COVID-19.
- 65% of women reported experiencing it in their lifetime.
- 4 in 10 women feel more unsafe in public spaces
- 1 in 4 women say that household conflicts have become more frequent, feel more unsafe in their home
- 1 in 5 women feel unsafe walking alone during the day
- 1 in 2 women feel unsafe walking alone at night
- 7 in 10 women said they think that verbal or physical abuse by a partner has become more common
- 6 in 10 women said they believe sexual harassment in public has worsened
- 3 in 10 women believe that VAW in their community has increased
Which Women Are Most Affected?
Younger Women
1 in 2 women reported having experienced violence or knowing a woman who has, since the pandemic. Stats revealed women aged 18-49 were the most affected (48%), in comparison to women aged 50-59 (42%) and women aged 60 + (34%).
Women Living with Children
1 in 2 women with children experienced violence or know a woman who has, compared to 37% partnered women without children. 41% unpartnered women without children.
Unemployed Women
52% of women who were affected were unemployed, as per VAW reports.
Women Living in Rural Areas
44% of women reported that they felt unsafe while walking alone at night since COVID-19, compared to women living in urban areas (39%). 62% of women thought that sexual harassment in public spaces has worsened, compared to 55% of women living in urban areas.
The report confirms that COVID-19 has resulted in a significant increase in violence against women, negatively affecting women’s feelings of safety and mental health.
5 Pakistani Women Who Lent Their Star Power to United Nations. Read the full story here:
Celebrities and influencers worldwide come forward and join hands with the United Nations, an intergovernmental organization, to immediately build force and support global matters that require attention. The main aim of the UN is to maintain international security and peace.
5 Pakistani Women Who Lent Their Star Power to United Nations
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