Our World-Struck by the Pandemic

More documents

Recommendations

Info

LEADERSHIP IN CRISIS & FRONTLINE HEROES SHUTTERSTOCK Streets are empty. Shops are shuttered. Offices are abandoned. Across Europe a number of weeks ago, buildings of work and leisure emptied of people and in parallel, domestic settings filled up. Millions of Europeans filled up houses and apartments, taking up residence for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Coronavirus, COVID-19, has pushed Europeans behind the doors of their homes and the dynamics of daily life have shifted. In reality, work to a certain extent has continued, childcare and care of older persons has expanded, and the monotony of life in confinement has set in. However, in addition to these every day realities, in many European households a darker phenomenon is being played out, where women, men and children, are now locked up in close quarters for an indefinite amount of time with abusers. For many, domestic violence is as much a reality of life in confinement as work, childcare and boredom. The Istanbul Convention defines domestic violence as “all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence with the victim”. Domestic violence is played out in silence, behind closed doors, where nobody can hear or see. Instances have spiked during this lockdown period, with major increases reported in countries across the world. There are two factors that are contributing to this increase in cases. The first is that abusers, with more stress and pressure than normal, are locked into domestic settings. The OECD assesses that the social consequences of COVID-19, such as the loss of social interactions, additional stresses Frances Fitzgerald Irish member of the European Parliament with the EPP Group – EPP Group Coordinator of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality 20 MAY 2020 | OUR WORLD
STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC Behind Closed Doors Domestic Violence Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic By Frances Fitzgerald within the home and the inability to leave the home are likely to be used to justify violence. In addition, as men most frequently perpetrate domestic violence, it is significantly linked to power dynamics. In these high-pressure times, violence is likely to be used as a way for men to reassert authority and control over women in the domestic setting, lashing out in frustration at the current situation. The second factor is the lack of available support services for victims. While many meetings and services have moved online instead of in person, due to close proximity to abusers in the household it is very difficult as well as often dangerous for victims to try to seek support or help through online fora. The consequences of their abuser discovering their efforts to seek help may be grievous. Together, these two factors allow the circle of violence to continue unabated, with tensions continuing to rise in the household while victims feel increasingly alone, abandoned and isolated. As politicians, it is our duty and responsibility to do whatever we can to protect all of our citizens during this period, not just from COVID-19, but also from other dangers that may be hiding within our neighbourhoods and communities. I am heartened to see action being taken in many EU Member States to tackle domestic violence in the current climate. In France for example, clinics have been set up in grocery stores to allow victims to seek help while they are doing their shopping. In Spain, a code word has been circulated to allow women to seek help in pharmacies. In Ireland, a new campaign has been launched (stillhere. ie) to remind citizens to be on the lookout for domestic violence, and to provide support to victims. In countries across the continent and indeed across the world, funding for domestic violence support organisations has been offered by governments, while the attention of police officers has been drawn to the crime, and they have been advised to be vigilant. As Minister for Justice in Ireland, in 2017 I brought forward legislation tackling domestic violence that allows for an immediate and temporary barring order from the home where there is reasonable grounds to believe there is an immediate risk of significant harm. Such orders will prove crucial during these weeks. All of these crucially important measures are aimed at helping and supporting victims. However, while politicians can put in place measures to try to tackle domestic violence, it is the actions of the general public that are needed to combat this scourge. People know their neighbours, they hear them more and they see them more, even just when putting out the bins or sitting on the balcony. With technology, we are in touch with family and friends often much more than we have been in years. The reality is that the greatest action we can take when it comes to combating domestic violence will be the vigilance and attention paid by the general public, by friends, by family and by neighbours. So, while you are checking in with at risk neighbours, while you are doing grocery shopping for elderly relatives, or even while you are reading your book and happen to hear something strange from next door, pause for a moment and pick up the phone, just to check if everything is ok. Because in these times, behind closed doors, it really is better to be safe than sorry. OUR WORLD | MAY 2020 21
Page 1 and 2: OUR WOR LD Struck by the Pandemic M
Page 3 and 4: A NEW EUROPE PUBLICATION OUR WORLD
Page 5: Editorial By Nicholas Waller Managi
Page 8 and 9: STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC CONTENTS Edi
Page 11 and 12: Struck by the Pandemic Leadership i
Page 13 and 14: STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC Women are al
Page 15 and 16: STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC Margaritis S
Page 17 and 18: STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC Now taking o
Page 19 and 20: STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC Prince Salma
Page 21: STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC should live
Page 25 and 26: STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC Eurasia and
Page 27 and 28: STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC many were st
Page 29 and 30: STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC Paul de Raev
Page 31 and 32: STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC purpose in t
Page 33 and 34: Struck by the Pandemic Political Ec
Page 35 and 36: STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC Antonio Lóp
Page 38 and 39: POLITICAL ECONOMY OF A PANDEMIC Tec
Page 40 and 41: POLITICAL ECONOMY OF A PANDEMIC SHU
Page 44 and 45: POLITICAL ECONOMY OF A PANDEMIC Qua
Page 48 and 49: POLITICAL ECONOMY OF A PANDEMIC The
Page 52 and 53: POLITICAL ECONOMY OF A PANDEMIC Rei
Page 58 and 59: POLITICAL ECONOMY OF A PANDEMIC Wha
Page 60 and 61: POLITICAL ECONOMY OF A PANDEMIC Fix
Page 64 and 65: POLITICAL ECONOMY OF A PANDEMIC A G
Page 67 and 68: Struck by the Pandemic Impact of a
Page 69 and 70: STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC also resulte
Page 71 and 72: STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC the parliame
Page 73 and 74:
STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC the service
Page 75 and 76:
STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC SHUTTERSTOCK
Page 77 and 78:
STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC Carlo Fidanz
Page 79 and 80:
STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC never more t
Page 81 and 82:
STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC Germany, too
Page 83 and 84:
STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC Sophia Kirch
Page 85 and 86:
STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC Nail Olpak P
Page 87 and 88:
Struck by the Pandemic Critical Inf
Page 89 and 90:
STRUCK BY THE PANDEMIC SHUTTERSTOCK
Page 92 and 93:
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE & THE FUTUR
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
Page 104 and 105:
Page 106 and 107:
Page 108 and 109:
Page 110 and 111:
FINAL WORD Turning Uncertainty into
Page 112:
THIS PAGE IS NOT FOR SALE We use th
show all

Our World-Struck by the Pandemic

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?