Is it safer at home? International experience and Russian practice of protecting victims of domestic violence during the coronavirus pandemic

Davtyan M.D.

Abstract

The pandemic spreading at a tremendous speed across the planet has forced states to take unprecedented measures to contain coronavirus infection, including by restricting human rights and freedoms. Actions taken by various countries to address the pandemic have created new risk factors for victims of domestic violence. These circumstances forced States to reconsider the availability of existing protection measures and support for domestic violence victims. Internet technology has become one of the main tools for overcoming new barriers. The combination of online and new offline services to provide assistance and information has enabled States to better cope with the escalating domestic violence situation. Countries that have responded to the pandemic and recorded increases in domestic violence, such as China, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and many other countries, were selected for the research. The article also analyses the situation and the measures taken by State bodies in Russia. A review of international experience in creating new ways to support victims of domestic violence during the pandemic shows that States that initially established a domestic violence prevention system actively pursued additional measures to support survivors during the pandemic. Russia has proven to be one of the most unprepared countries to protect victims of domestic violence. Even though the Russian government had publicly responded to the increase in cases of domestic violence during the COVID-19 period and tasked ministries and departments to take measures to remedy the situation, in comparison with other countries, the lack of effective mechanisms for preventing domestic violence before the pandemic did not allow an urgent response to the exacerbation of the situation during the crisis.

Keywords

coronavirus infection; domestic violence.

DOI: 10.31249/rsm/2022.03.08

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