Three international agencies have jointly launched the #SafeHome campaign to support women and children at risk of domestic violence.
The agencies, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union have said the campaign is a joint response from the three institutions to the recent spikes in domestic violence.
They said in a statement Tuesday the stay-at – home measures to prevent COVID-19 spread have put women and children at greater risk of abuse.
Violence is a pervasive public health and human rights concern worldwide.
It affects all gender, and cuts across age, race , religion, ethnicity , disability, culture and wealth boundaries. Statistically, domestic violence affects women and children the most, and is often perpetrated by men they know and trust.
Nearly one in three women worldwide witness physical or sexual abuse by an intimate partner or sexual harassment by someone else in their lifetime in a statement released on the WHO website Tuesday.
“In a majority of cases, that violence is committed by a partner in their home – indeed, up to 38 per cent of all murders of women are committed by an intimate partner.”
It is estimated that 1 billion children aged between two and 17 years (or half of the world ‘s children) have endured physical , sexual or emotional abuse or neglect in the past year, according to the three organisations.
“There are many reasons why people perpetrate domestic violence, including gender inequality and social norms that condone violence, childhood experiences of abuse or exposure to violence and coercive control growing up,” they said.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus has said that harmful alcohol use can also trigger violence, “just as physical, sexual or psychological violence has no place in football, it has no place in the home.”
“Stressful situations, such as those being experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic instability, exacerbate the risk. Moreover, the current distancing measures in place in many countries make it harder for women and children to reach out to family, friends and health workers who could otherwise provide support and protection,” he said.
“We are so pleased that our partners today are joining us to draw attention to this critical issue. As people are isolated at home because of COVID-19, the risks of domestic violence have tragically been exacerbated.”
Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, has also said that the football community should raise awareness of this “intolerable situation that threatens women and children in their own home, a place where they should feel happy, safe and secure.”
“We cannot stay silent on this issue that negatively affects so many people. Violence has no place in homes, just as it has no place in sports. Football has the power to relay important social messages, and through the #SafeHome campaign, we want to ensure that those people experiencing violence have access to the necessary support services they need,” he said.
He has called on FIFA member organisations to regularly publish lists of national or local help lines and community programs that can aid victims and anyone in their locality who feels threatened by abuse.
“We also call upon our members to review their own safeguarding measures using the FIFA Guardians toolkit to ensure that football is fun and safe for everyone in our game, especially the youngest members of the football family,” he said.
Meanwhile, EU Innovation, Research, Culture , Education and Youth Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said violence has no place in society, and “women’s rights are human rights and should be protected.”
“Often abused women and children are afraid to talk because of fear or shame. This ‘window’ to speak up and seek help is, during confinement, even more, restricted. As a matter of fact, in some countries, we have seen an increase in reports of domestic violence since the outbreak of COVID-19.”
She said it is the responsibility of society, to speak up for women who have experienced violence “in one form or the other.”
