“We know that curfews and quarantine are crucial to combat COVID-19. But they can lock up women with partners who abuse them, »said Guterres. “Many women and girls are most at risk where they should be safest: at home.”
In some countries, the number of women calling emergency services has doubled. Health services and police are flooded and under-equipped. Local aid groups are “paralyzed” and short on cash, the UN Secretary-General warned.
He called on governments around the world to ensure that violent criminals continued to be persecuted. Warning systems should also be set up in pharmacies and shops. Places of refuge should be declared indispensable facilities.
