THE PANDEMIC HELPS RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT FAMILY VIOLENCE

Between 2020 and 2021, we aided 3 thousand 669 women, both legally and psychologically, who were victims of violence during the pandemic due to COVID-19.

According to the “Women, one year after COVID-19” report made by the Citizen Council for Safety and Justice in Mexico City, the pandemic of COVID-19 helped raise awareness about family violence and enabled the creation of more mechanisms to help society recognize and denounce the situation that’s present at homes.

The study, based on reports made at the Women’s and Family Line and the Trustworthy Chat held by the citizen organism during 2020 and until February 2021, highlights factors that cause pandemic fatigue.

During this period, they offered service to 3 thousand 669 women who claimed to be victims of family violence, some of them since a few years back. During the first phase of the pandemic, between March and April, reports increased from 72 to 348, and last year they reached their highest point in May with 413.

In January of 2021, they also had 413 cases and in February, 445. “Violence within the family was not caused by confinement but it was radically highlighted by it and by the community, collective and institutional efforts as well as by campaigns made by different organisms such as the Citizen Council.”

“We must continue with the process of empowering women, especially those who have less, say: girls and elder women, and witnesses of what they suffer so that they start to denounce their aggressors,” said Clara Luz Alvarez, technical secretary of the Citizen Council.

Reports show that 42% of women have suffered violence within the family from ages 1 to 7; 11% for over 15 years, 9% from ages 8 to 14. According to the report, among the main aggressors, three out of four people are close to the victims, and they include the spouse, partner or former love interest.

“Confinement due to the pandemic gave way to a concept established by the UN and described as pandemic fatigue, which is manifested as exhaustion or overwhelm due to the sanitary routine which, added to the increase in the number of responsibilities at home, job loss and income reduction, caused some women to show signs of depression, anxiety, insomnia and irritability,” added Salvador Guerrero Chipres, President of the organism.

Between 2020 and 2021, the Citizen Council has offered 22 thousand 964 psychological attentions to women, mainly due to problems with their partner or breakups, family problems, anxiety, depression, violence or family issues.

Among these last, 785 were related with child care, elder or grandchildren, and 21% with lack of empathy from their partner regarding homecare.

Through the Emotional Recovery Centers of the Citizen Council (CRECC) located in the mayoralties of Cuauhtémoc and Iztapalapa, psychologists have offered virtual or in-person therapies –all with the necessary sanitary measures– to 476 women, 38% in relation with violence within the family.

The organism offers free and confidential psychological and legal support, 24/7 through the Women’s and Family Line and the Trustworthy Chat, both reached at 55 5533 5533.

You can find the complete study here.