Covid-19 quarantines cause domestic violence spike in Brazil

Social isolation in Brazil is causing violence against women to rise, and already stretched health systems are unable to provide assistance

Violence against women spikes in Brazil during quarantines — Photo: Mary Long/Shutterstock

May 02, 2020 16:08 4 min read

Across Latin America, heads of state have been largely compliant with the World Health Organization’s Covid-19 recommendations — with the notable exceptions of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil and Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua. Governments have closed borders, shut schools, and non-essential businesses, and are urging the population to stay at home. However, confinement at home brings with it a whole host of new challenges and risks for millions in the Americas — particularly women.

According to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), reports of gender-based violence and demand for emergency shelters...

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Covid-19 quarantines cause domestic violence spike in Brazil

Social isolation in Brazil is causing violence against women to rise, and already stretched health systems are unable to provide assistance

Access all of The Brazilian Report

Start your 7-day free trial.

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