TORONTO -- Advocacy groups are sounding the alarm on what is being described as an epidemic of domestic violence in Canada, as victims are confined to their homes with their abusers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淲e have a pandemic on top of a pandemic,鈥 Angela MacDougall, executive director of , told 麻豆影视.
The advocacy group, which provides educational and support services for victims of domestic violence across Canada, began scaling up their crisis support measures long before physical distancing measures were mandated in Canada, after MacDougall was warned by colleagues in China that a 鈥渢sunami鈥 of abuse would become a side effect of the coronavirus pandemic.
With transition houses and women鈥檚 shelters already at capacity or closed due to virus concerns, BWSS began staffing their support line 24 hour a day, seven days a week.
鈥淎s soon as we went 24/7, our calls steadily increased progressively 鈥 50 per cent to a hundred per cent until the peak at 300 per cent,鈥 MacDougall said. 鈥淭hat ends up being a lot of calls for us, a little organization based in Vancouver, but we have the capacity and we scaled up really quickly with our trained staff in order to respond to the needs from all parties all across the country.鈥
Of the women who have called BSWW for support during the pandemic, an estimated 40 per cent are living in abusive situations, isolated with their abusers.
To make matters worse, many of these women have been stripped of their only respite from abuse, whether it be leaving the house to go to work, take the kids to school, or socialize.
Though more than half of the organizations callers are located in Metro Vancouver, the organization has been receiving calls from across the country. They have also received calls from women trapped in abusive situations overseas, some of which are Canadians seeking advice on how to return home.
ISOLATION A 鈥楻ECIPE FOR DISASTER鈥
The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to spikes in domestic violence reports and crisis calls in China, France, and the U.K.鈥-- a trend the says has been seen during past outbreaks.
The impact of the virus鈥 spread on women has already been documented by the and the , both of which cite economic insecurity, increased social isolation, and the inability for women to leave abusive situations as reasons for the uptick in violence.
Now, experts say the pandemic is shining a light on the prevalence of domestic violence in Canada, with shelters struggling to keep up with 鈥渇rantic鈥 calls from women in danger.
鈥淲e had to adapt in so many ways, and anything from reducing our capacity, unfortunately, in the shelter to improve social distancing鈥 Stephanie Taylor, a spokesperson for the , noting the shelter has been forced to anonymously arrange hotel rooms for some women when they are available.
One in 10 women say they are 鈥渧ery or extremely鈥 concerned about the possibility of violence in their home due to the stress of confinement, according to a about the impacts COVID-19 released in early April.
鈥淚solation is really the main tool an abuser uses. And right now, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, isolation is being handed to them on a silver platter,鈥 Samra Zafar, domestic abuse survivor turned advocate, said in a recent YouTube video aimed at raising awareness about the risks facing victims during this time.
鈥淎 lot of these women don鈥檛 have access to the internet or other resources鈥 couple that with all of the isolation that is already happening because that is mandated by law now, it becomes a recipe for disaster.鈥
Zafar, who wrote the bestselling memoir 鈥淎 Good Wife: Escaping the Life I Never Chose,鈥 has started a series of free weekly webinars as a form of virtual support for women experiencing abuse.
The videos, uploaded to YouTube, offer emotional support, safety planning, and even legal advice.
Zafar, who advocates that 鈥渒nowledge is power鈥 for victims of abuse, notes that most women in abusive situations aren鈥檛 aware of their legal rights and have few resources available to find out what those rights are.
Her videos shed light on the fact that while regular court operations are suspended due to the pandemic, women who have access to legal counsel can still bring forward urgent motions for support.
鈥淵ou will get access [to] and custody of children. You can get a family lawyer to put forward a case of domestic violence in front of a judge,鈥 she told 麻豆影视, noting that most women aren鈥檛 aware of their legal rights.
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The federal government has announced emergency funding for women鈥檚 shelters and other services for those who experience gender-based violence. However, the Canadian Women鈥檚 Foundation notes that more funding is urgently needed.
The foundation is now fundraising through the , a national emergency fund to help vital services. It is also working with the federal government to distribute funding to vital services across the country.
The group鈥檚 also aims to raise awareness about a one-handed sign victims can use on a video call to silently show they need help.
Zafar鈥檚 website also includes a that provides a nationwide regional breakdown of the services and hotlines available to those grappling with violence in the home.
contains information on emergency domestic abuse hotlines and resources for Canadians in every province and territory.
can be reached at 604.687.1867 or toll-free at 1-855-687-1868.
