The WHO has declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and recommended that communities’ practice social distancing, washing of hands or use of hand sanitizers and wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the virus. These measures have significant impact on gender equality particularly women and their role in the society. The pandemic poses big challenges in their lives and on their livelihoods.
Sadly, some women facing physical and psychological violence are trapped at home with their abusers including rural communities. Even as lockdown eases, the scars do not go away. If these women have to go through physical and psychological trauma, how then can they take care of their children and assert their rights? Abused women need more protection during this lock down as ‘the no movement rule’ will increase their vulnerability to abuse. A second wave of lockdowns has not been ruled out.
Although statistics indicate that more men than women have died as a result of COVID-19, women are also negatively impacted. As recently noted by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, the global lock-down has resulted in an increase in gender-based violence (GVB). Therefore, we will assist the women of Ebonyi state who are exposed to assault and rape to seek and gain justice through the judicial system (police and court).
Participatory Development Alternatives has in the past been involved in empowering the poor and excluded (men, women, youth and children) in Ebonyi state to improve their standard of living and dignity. We empower women and drive gender equality. In the light of this, PDA plans to provide hotlines to communities to report gender-based violence to ease case reporting, increase public awareness and access to justice. This will include providing awareness messages via telephone calls and text messages within and around the communities we impact. In collaboration with our major donor, ActionAid, we have begun to campaign and educate communities on this virus to bridge the gap in information and give the right message to people in various communities and local government areas in the state who are not digitally equipped, and will do more to reach women affected by GVB to speak up and get help.
These are challenging times for our community, and PDA will focus on women to address the scourge of gender-based violence. We call on the general public to become aware of this abuse and support abused women in their environments. TOGETHER WE CAN PUT A STOP TO GENDER BASED VIOLENCE.
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