Covid-19: CBCEW urge support
for domestic abuse victims
 |
| Alarm over domesic abuse in the home during Covid pandemic |
The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) is
calling on parishes to give support to victims of domestic violence during the
Covid-19 pandemic.
By Lydia O’Kane
Since countries have gone into lockdown to halt the spread
of the coronavirus, the daily reports of new cases and fatalities have
continued to alarm the world.
Rise in domestic abuse during pandemic
But there are also other figures which have increased
dramatically during this pandemic and are raising concern: those of domestic
abuse — so much so, that the United Nations is describing this scourge as a
growing "shadow pandemic".
With many countries still maintaining strict isolation
measures, this has meant that people have had to remain at home with their
abuser.
Since the UK-wide COVID-19 lockdown began on 23 March, there
has been a 49% increase in calls and online requests for help relating to
domestic abuse.
Responding to this worrying trend, the British government
last month rolled out a campaign under the hashtag #YouAreNotAlone.
It aims to reassure those affected by domestic abuse that
support services remain available during the pandemic.
Parish support Shocking numbers
In light of this significant rise in requests for help, the
Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) is calling on parishes to give
support to victims of domestic violence during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Conference’s Domestic Abuse Group has issued guidance
which includes information about how parishes can raise awareness and how to
safely get help.
Bishop John Sherrington chairs the Domestic Abuse Group of
the Bishops Conference, and described the numbers as shocking.
“We know that there’s a lot of domestic abuse in society;
last year when we produced resources for the Day for Life, we focused on
domestic abuse, and the statistics are that one in four women is abused — and
one in six men — during the course of their life. But now this 49 per cent
increase in calls to a domestic abuse helpline is very shocking.
Raising awareness
Speaking about how the Church can play its part, the Bishop
said, “I think first of all we can raise awareness about this issue; it’s not
something outside of us, it’s something within every part of society.”
Secondly, he said, the Bishops want parishes to keep in
contact with people and give particular thought to those who might disappear
from sight at this time and who are very vulnerable.
Support for agencies
Bishop Sherrington also stressed that parishes have an
important role to play in supporting local agencies, especially those
dealing with domestic abuse.
“There has been a lot of learning about domestic abuse and
so, given the recognition that this is an offence against the dignity of every
person, I do encourage people who are experiencing abuse to make contact with
those agencies. If you are in danger for your life to go to the police”, he
said.
“Every person has a right to live their life free from
violence, intimidation, abuse and fear, and so we want to emphasize that
Catholic parishes can play an important part in the fighting of this scourge of
domestic abuse, especially during the pandemic.”
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