For people who are being forced to live with their aggressor, the situation is very complex. We hope this article can help you find out what tools you have in times of coronavirus.
The confinement as a consequence of Covid-19 is assuming the development of different economic and social models, that augur a very difficult future in every way. And for women who experience gender violence, this confinement represents not only a complicated future, but a very hard present to bear.
To the obvious fact that it is very difficult to live this confinement with an aggressor, a hard reality is added: the possibility of response from institutions is being diminished for the fundamental priority of fighting the pandemic.
We have already received similar news about this situation from China, the first country of contagion and in facing this critical situation. We know that, even without official figures, there was in China an increase in domestic violence during the first weeks of quarantine.
What measures are being taken in Spain to stop sexist violence in times of coronavirus?
La UN Women recently warned that the measures being implemented worldwide for quarantine and social isolation to contain COVID-19, may generate an increase in gender violence and poverty experienced by women.
In this sense, the Spanish Ministry of Equality published a performance guide for women that they are suffering gender violence in a situation of domiciliary permanence derived from the state of alarm by COVID-19. In that document it is recalled that the victim care and counseling services "Still active" and have been declared "Essential services" so that they remain guaranteed during the alarm state.
Royal Decree Law, what measures does it include?
The Council of Ministers has approved a Royal Decree Law (RDL) of urgent measures to guarantee protection, information and assistance to victims of gender violence and other forms of violence against women. Among the measures included in the Royal Decree Law are:
- The number assistance phone 016 still active.
- Some new features launched in recent days, as an urgent legal attention clinic to which victims of this type of violence will have access.
- Un emergency psychological attention service through Whatsapp.
- An host services network, such as emergency centers, shelters or sheltered flats, safe accommodation for victims of gender violence.
- A novelty that incorporates the decree is the possibility of using tourist accommodation (hotels) for shelter these types of victims and their sons and daughters, in the event that there is a shortage of host resources during the time of the coronavirus emergency.
Canary Islands and "the mask 19", a fact that must be made viral ...
In the Canary Islands, women who may be experiencing a situation of gender violence at home, they will be able to give the alert in the pharmacies of their neighborhood. The agreement reached between Canary Institute of Equality (ICI) and the official schools of Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife have established the motto "Against gender violence, Mask 19". The action consists of making available to women from all corners of Canary Islandsthe possibility of raising the alarm in their trusted pharmacy or in the closest one in case of gender violence. So, those women who are at risk or of danger to their physical, psychological and / or sexual integrity, both in their closest family environment and on the street, they may go to the pharmacy and request a "Mask 19".
With this request, pharmaceutical staff, will make a call for gender violence to 112 to alert the situation, which will generate that attention protocol is activated that is required in each case, and from where they will duly guide the pharmaceutical staff of the steps that must be followed at all times and of the information that is required.
