世界发展银行-Addressing-Violence-against-Women-under-COVID-19-in-Brazil_20页_2mb

Summary: Addressing Violence against Women (VAW) under COVID-19 in Brazil

Core Content

The document analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on violence against women (VAW) in Brazil, highlighting the increased risks and challenges faced by women and girls during the crisis. It also outlines the policy responses and interventions implemented by the federal and subnational governments, as well as civil society organizations, to address these emerging issues.

Key Risk Factors for VAW during the Pandemic

• Economic Stress: Women, who are disproportionately affected by unemployment and underrepresentation in the labor market, face heightened economic vulnerability due to income loss and limited access to formal social protection.
• Social Isolation: Quarantine and social distancing measures restrict women's mobility and increase exposure to abusers within the home.
• Care Burden: School closures and confinement have intensified the unpaid care responsibilities women bear, limiting their ability to work and seek help.
• Underreporting: Traditional underreporting of VAW is expected to increase further due to the difficulty of accessing formal reporting channels during lockdowns.
• Healthcare Workers at Risk: 65% of Brazil's healthcare workers are women, and they face increased risks of violence at work, in public spaces, and in their homes due to stress, stigma, and public fear.

VAW Trends in Brazil During the Pandemic

• Increase in VAW Reports: There was a 27% increase in calls to the national VAW helpline (Call-180) in March-April 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
• Decline in In-Person Reporting: Domestic violence complaints reported through police stations dropped by an average of 25.5%, with some states experiencing a drastic reduction (e.g., 97.3% in Maranhão).
• Femicide Increase: Femicide rates rose by 22% during the first two months of confinement, with some states showing significant spikes (e.g., 300% in Acre).
• Social Media Reporting: Informal third-party reports of domestic violence incidents on social media, particularly Twitter, increased by 431% between February and April 2020, with a peak in April. Reports were often made on Fridays and peaked between 8pm and 3am on Saturdays.

Policy Measures and Interventions

Federal Government Actions

• Decree 10.282 (March 20, 2020): Designated social assistance services for vulnerable populations as essential during quarantine.
• Law 14.022 (July 7, 2020): Mandated that VAW services remain operational and required VAW cases reported through national helplines to be communicated to relevant authorities within 48 hours.
• National Contingency Plan: Launched by the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights to support VAW survivors, including guidance for service providers and the establishment of VAW committees at state and municipal levels.
• Digital Platforms: Introduced online reporting tools and apps to expand access to helpline services (e.g., Disque 100 and Ligue 180).

State-Level Responses

• Acre: Developed an app for remote reporting of violence and provided information on VAW resources.
• Federal District: Implemented online reporting platforms, prioritized VAW services, and launched awareness campaigns such as "Você Não Está Sozinho" ("You Are Not Alone").
• Rio Grande do Sul: Expanded the "Patrulha Maria da Penha" police service to 82% of municipalities and introduced online and WhatsApp-based reporting.
• São Paulo and Other States: Adopted online reporting mechanisms for domestic violence cases.
• Teresina: Social workers from women's organizations began operating through phone and provided assistance during emergencies.

Key Findings and Challenges

• The increase in VAW is attributed to a combination of economic, social, and psychological stressors.
• The decline in in-person reporting suggests that women are struggling to access formal channels, possibly due to confinement and stigma.
• Femicide and female homicide rates rose in most states, indicating a significant rise in lethal violence against women.
• Social media data provide an alternative source of reporting, but may not be representative of all population groups.
• The document emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring and improvement of services to ensure effective response to VAW during and after the pandemic.

Conclusion

The document underscores the complex and multifaceted relationship between the pandemic and VAW in Brazil. It calls for timely and adaptive policy responses, the enhancement of service accessibility, and the collection of more comprehensive data to better understand and address the issue. It is also noted that the findings are preliminary and will be updated with further consultations and data collection.