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March 31, 2020The other pandemic that will trigger confinement: gender violence
HIGHLIGHTS
The other pandemic that will trigger confinement: gender violence
March 27th, 2019
The message of a gray sign with blue letters hanging on social networks during the last hours and addressed to Mexican men - males, alerts the imminent danger. He tells them: If during this period of quarantine at home you feel angry, frustrated, annoyed, sad or stressed, immediately call the emergency line that GENDES has available 24 hours a day ”.
The experts know that the danger is imminent, the anger, frustration, annoyance, sadness or tension of these men, could turn against their partners and explode in the worst unimaginable ways, all framed in outbreaks of violence.
It has already happened in Spain, Italy, and China, and other countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica and Brazil are on alert. The epidemic of gender violence could steal the best lives, even more than the coronavirus, if measures are not taken in time, warns Wendy Figueroa, the director of the National Network of Women's Shelters in Mexico.
The "social distancing" to reduce the spread of COVID-19, could reactivate the "other pandemic", since the quarantine will necessarily isolate the Mexican women with their aggressors and the violent incidents, could be triggered in any comment, acknowledged the expert on issues gender, noting that in the previous two weeks, reports of incidents of domestic violence increased across the country.
In an exclusive interview with TheObserverMex, Figueroa Esquivel Morales stressed that the recent experience of Spain, Italy but especially China, reported a sustained increase in incidents of gender violence, along with the passage of social distancing, even of the most aggressions Serious acts such as beatings, attacks on objects, humiliation, fighting, and acts of violent control that can ultimately lead to femicides.
In China alone, cases of domestic violence have increased by 100% during the pandemic.
He indicated that this is why the Red Nacional de Refugios AC, with 76 distributed throughout Mexico, is on high alert.
On the other hand, like a pandemic caused by a virus from which no one can be saved, gender violence in Mexico is also, it is transversal, he warns, since it does not respect status, studies or social condition and women of all type, origin, level and geographical areas face it.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, he recognized that there are well-identified red spots in the Mexican geography and that they stand out not only for the statistical background of family violence reported by entities such as INEGI, but also for the lack of solid institutions that respond efficiently and forcefully, articulated and organized to the calls for help from women: the State of Mexico, Chihuahua, Guerrero, Michoacán and Nuevo León.
In this sense, he recognized that in the case of the State of Mexico, there is a strong problem of institutions that continue without responding efficiently to calls or reports of help, as well as to complaints and requests for support. It is still a problem for a woman that the Mexican authorities listen to them when they want to file a complaint.
In addition to the above, the other reality is that the "forced confinement" of families increases stress or tension between couples, and this can lead to various types of aggression.
That is why the National Refuge Network launched a recent initiative so that the issue of domestic violence is no longer a "private problem" and becomes a matter for which everyone has responsibility.
Wendy Figueroa pointed out that families, women, and men, are being asked to report immediately or send a patrol if they listen to their neighbors or see aggression among their neighbors, also so that women can support other women in conditions of violence. and in this way support networks are woven.
THAT IT IS RECOMMENDED TO WOMEN AT RISK.
Women at risk during these days of confinement, because they are locked up with their aggressor, are recommended to keep in touch with their support networks, to have ready in a discreet place a bag with documents, clothes and medicines, which they can take quickly to leave. the place of the attack, if necessary.
It is also recommended to have in this bag minimum money to be able to move around and a directory of contacts (previously prepared).
The other vital recommendation is that if you feel you are in danger, send "help codes", previously established with friends or family (support networks), so that at some point of tension, they can send a message to alert of the situation and that these networks (established by prior agreement), know how to support them and come to their rescue as agreed.
Another tip from Wendy Figueroa is that when women are in a moment of tension or discussion with their partners, try to stay away from the places inside the house where they can be in greater danger: this is the kitchen and places where you can have easy access to blunt objects.
THE RISK PROFILES
According to the director of the Red Nacional de Refugios AC, although gender-based violence in Mexico is “transversal”, there are profiles of families who could be more at risk of facing incidents of gender-based violence, due to their conditions of poverty and overcrowding.
Other risks can be the lack of job opportunities, that is, unemployment, as well as problems of lack of control or management of emotions such as anger.
Ma. Teresa Montaño
Staff
Translator: Martín Caballero
The message of a gray sign with blue letters hanging on social networks during the last hours and addressed to Mexican men - males, alerts the imminent danger. He tells them: If during this period of quarantine at home you feel angry, frustrated, annoyed, sad or stressed, immediately call the emergency line that GENDES has available 24 hours a day ”.
The experts know that the danger is imminent, the anger, frustration, annoyance, sadness or tension of these men, could turn against their partners and explode in the worst unimaginable ways, all framed in outbreaks of violence.
It has already happened in Spain, Italy, and China, and other countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica and Brazil are on alert. The epidemic of gender violence could steal the best lives, even more than the coronavirus, if measures are not taken in time, warns Wendy Figueroa, the director of the National Network of Women's Shelters in Mexico.
The "social distancing" to reduce the spread of COVID-19, could reactivate the "other pandemic", since the quarantine will necessarily isolate the Mexican women with their aggressors and the violent incidents, could be triggered in any comment, acknowledged the expert on issues gender, noting that in the previous two weeks, reports of incidents of domestic violence increased across the country.
In an exclusive interview with TheObserverMex, Figueroa Esquivel Morales stressed that the recent experience of Spain, Italy but especially China, reported a sustained increase in incidents of gender violence, along with the passage of social distancing, even of the most aggressions Serious acts such as beatings, attacks on objects, humiliation, fighting, and acts of violent control that can ultimately lead to femicides.
In China alone, cases of domestic violence have increased by 100% during the pandemic.
He indicated that this is why the Red Nacional de Refugios AC, with 76 distributed throughout Mexico, is on high alert.
On the other hand, like a pandemic caused by a virus from which no one can be saved, gender violence in Mexico is also, it is transversal, he warns, since it does not respect status, studies or social condition and women of all type, origin, level and geographical areas face it.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, he recognized that there are well-identified red spots in the Mexican geography and that they stand out not only for the statistical background of family violence reported by entities such as INEGI, but also for the lack of solid institutions that respond efficiently and forcefully, articulated and organized to the calls for help from women: the State of Mexico, Chihuahua, Guerrero, Michoacán and Nuevo León.
In this sense, he recognized that in the case of the State of Mexico, there is a strong problem of institutions that continue without responding efficiently to calls or reports of help, as well as to complaints and requests for support. It is still a problem for a woman that the Mexican authorities listen to them when they want to file a complaint.
In addition to the above, the other reality is that the "forced confinement" of families increases stress or tension between couples, and this can lead to various types of aggression.
That is why the National Refuge Network launched a recent initiative so that the issue of domestic violence is no longer a "private problem" and becomes a matter for which everyone has responsibility.
Wendy Figueroa pointed out that families, women, and men, are being asked to report immediately or send a patrol if they listen to their neighbors or see aggression among their neighbors, also so that women can support other women in conditions of violence. and in this way support networks are woven.
THAT IT IS RECOMMENDED TO WOMEN AT RISK.
Women at risk during these days of confinement, because they are locked up with their aggressor, are recommended to keep in touch with their support networks, to have ready in a discreet place a bag with documents, clothes and medicines, which they can take quickly to leave. the place of the attack, if necessary.
It is also recommended to have in this bag minimum money to be able to move around and a directory of contacts (previously prepared).
The other vital recommendation is that if you feel you are in danger, send "help codes", previously established with friends or family (support networks), so that at some point of tension, they can send a message to alert of the situation and that these networks (established by prior agreement), know how to support them and come to their rescue as agreed.
Another tip from Wendy Figueroa is that when women are in a moment of tension or discussion with their partners, try to stay away from the places inside the house where they can be in greater danger: this is the kitchen and places where you can have easy access to blunt objects.
THE RISK PROFILES
According to the director of the Red Nacional de Refugios AC, although gender-based violence in Mexico is “transversal”, there are profiles of families who could be more at risk of facing incidents of gender-based violence, due to their conditions of poverty and overcrowding.
Other risks can be the lack of job opportunities, that is, unemployment, as well as problems of lack of control or management of emotions such as anger.
Ma. Teresa Montaño
Staff
Translator: Martín Caballero
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