The Consequences of the Pandemic in the Gender Violence

Twenty-five years ago, the Fourth World Conference on Women was held in Beijing. At that time, 189 countries adopted the Beijing Platform for Action, a policy framework for gender equality and the rights of women and girls. However, due to the current situation in the world, women are at greater risk of domestic violence and other types of abuse.

The EU-LAT Network is a pluralistic network of European movements and organizations that promote solidarity between Latin America and Europe. To commemorate November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the EU-LAT Network published a report entitled "25 years after Beijing: Recommendations to the EU for the protection of women in light of COVID -19 and beyond ", where the organization highlights the path that Latin America and Europe still have to travel.

According to the research, women and girls experience multiple forms of violence throughout their lives: physical, sexual, occupational, psychological, and economic and patrimonial.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an increase in gender-based violence in both regions. Women human rights defenders declare that there are greater risks of harassment, verbal aggression, sexual violence, threats to their families, and rape.

In the digital age, women are victims of digital sexual violence, such as trafficking. In Europe, 1 in 3 women has suffered physical or sexual violence, and 1 in 2 has suffered sexual harassment. In addition, 1 in 10 has suffered cyberbullying.

In Latin America, almost 20 million women and girls suffer sexual and physical violence every year. In the last 25 years, the number of minor marriages and forced pregnancies in girls and adolescents in Latin America has remained the same.

Also read: HOW ARE MAJOR COMPANIES WORKING TO IMPROVE GENDER EQUALITY?

The EU-LAT Network seeks to eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls. The organization affirms that "next year we will continue working so that this issue is included as a priority in relations between the European Union and Latin America."

Among its main concerns, the organization notes that “During the COVID-10 pandemic, gender-based violence has increased in both regions. With more than 50% of murders of women committed by their partners or close relatives, the home is the most dangerous place for women."

November 25 was declared the International Day against Violence against Women at the 1st Feminist Encounter of Latin America and the Caribbean held in Bogotá (Colombia) in July 1981.

At this meeting, the women denounced gender violence at the domestic level and rape and sexual harassment at the state level, including torture and abuse suffered by political prisoners.

The date was chosen to commemorate the violent murder of the Mirabal sisters (Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa), three political activists assassinated on November 25 of 1960, in the secret police of dictator Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. However, it was not until 1999 that the UN granted official status to this date.

The elimination of violence against women is an issue that all humanity must combat. Not just for the women of today but also for generations to come. Every November 25, purple ribbons are distributed in certain places, which represent a sign of support for the fight against non-violence against women.