The new Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) was declared a Global Pandemic on 11 March 2020 and as a result, the movement outside was restricted, schools and offices were close and while everyone thought of this pandemic as deleterious, there was a deadlier virus just around the corner.

The stay-at-home order had suddenly paved way for increasing number of cases of Intimate partner violence (IPV), thus confining the deprived women to their homes and abusers.  

The house has suddenly become the most “dangerous place” for women.

In July, the UN estimated that six months of restrictions could result in 31 million additional cases of sexual violence in the world and seven million unwanted pregnancies.

While in countries like Spain, women have started using secret codes such as “Mask-19” to address domestic violence, there are countries like Paris which saw a 36 per cent rise in violent domestic abuse cases in just one week.

However, early data shows that helplines in Singapore and Cyprus have registered a more than 30 per cent increase in calls.  In Australia, 40 per cent of frontline workers in New South Wales reported more requests for help with violence.

Domestic violence not only shatters the victim but exacerbates tensions about security, health, and money. UN has been trying to help the women out there by urging the governments to put women’s safety first:

Peace is not just the absence of war. Many women under lockdown for #COVID19 face violence where they should be safest: in their own homes.

Today I appeal for peace in homes around the world.

I urge all governments to put women’s safety first as they respond to the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/PjDUTrMb9v

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 6, 2020

It’s how time this issue is taken seriously and addressed correctly. What you would probably not realise is that while you took a moment to read this, some woman out there was being brutally abused and needs to have her voice be heard. Let’s work towards a change.