Lockdown Leads to More Abuse in Latin America
2020-05-04
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1Like many other parts of the world, countries in Latin America have enforced lockdowns to slow the spread of COVID-19.
2These lockdowns, however, have led to an increase in calls for help to abuse hotlines.
3In areas like Buenos Aires, Argentina; Santiago, Chile; São Paulo, Brazil; La Paz, Bolivia and Mexico City, Mexico -- families and individuals often are only permitted out of their homes for emergencies or to shop for necessary items.
4The Reuters news agency reported that each year in Latin America, almost 20 million women and girls suffer sexual and physical violence.
5During the lockdowns, there have been more reports of abuse in Mexico and Brazil.
6Other countries, including Chile and Bolivia, have seen a drop in official reports.
7However, legal experts and activists say this drop was likely not due to a decrease in violence.
8They say it is because women were less able to seek help or report abuse.
9Maria Noel Baeza is the regional director for UN Women, an organization designed to help women.
10She told Reuters, in a lockdown situation, "women are locked up with their own abusers" and have "very limited outlets," or ways to get help.
11Another group looking closely at this issue is the Victims Against Violence program in Argentina.
12This program runs a hotline for women to report abuse.
13Its founder, Eva Giberti, said that her group is not surprised by the increase in violence.
14Gilberti told Reuters that it is a release of "violence that was already there in people.
15She added that "under normal social circumstances that had been limited to some degree."
16Argentina's national lockdown began on March 20.
17Argentina's emergency hotline for abuse victims is supported by the country's justice ministry.
18That hotline has experienced a 67 percent rise in calls for help in April compared to a year earlier.
19In Brazil, Sao Paulo state has been hit the hardest by the new coronavirus.
20An organization called the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety reported a 45 percent increase in March compared to a year earlier in cases of violence against women requiring police assistance.
21In Colombia, officials report that calls to a national women's hotline were up nearly 130 percent during the first 18 days of the nationwide lockdown.
22The lockdown has been extended until May 11.
23In Chile, the women's minister said calls to domestic abuse hotlines had increased 70 percent in the first weekend of lockdown.
24The government has added ways for women to receive counseling and are keeping shelters open for women at-risk.
25Evelyn Matthei is the mayor of Providencia, a wealthy area in Santiago.
26She said calls to a local office providing legal, psychological and social help had increased 500 percent.
27Official reports of domestic violence, however, actually decreased in the first half of April in Chile.
28Matthei said, "This probably has to do with the fact that there is violence within the home but that women cannot go out. They dare not go out."
29In Mexico, official records show that reports to police of domestic violence rose about 25 percent in March against a year earlier.
30The director of the Municipal Institute for Women of Veracruz is Blanca Aquino.
31She told Reuters that "since the lockdown, there's been an increase in reports of domestic violence -- many of those psychological violence."
32Veracruz is the Mexican state with the country's highest rate of female deaths.
33Arussi Unda is with a Mexican feminist organization named Brujas del Mar.
34She said at first many calls to the group came from neighbors hearing fights in other houses.
35"Now we get many women asking for advice on how to leave the house and take their children," she said.
36The concern over domestic abuse is not limited to Latin America.
37There is a fear that victims are being silenced in other countries.
38Marta Dillon is one of the founders of the "Ni Una Menos" women's group.
39 She said women around the world are working together to end domestic violence.
40 Dillon told Reuters the group's supporters in Italy, Turkey, and the United States are working toward an international declaration for the group.
41I'm Anna Matteo.
1Like many other parts of the world, countries in Latin America have enforced lockdowns to slow the spread of COVID-19. These lockdowns, however, have led to an increase in calls for help to abuse hotlines. 2In areas like Buenos Aires, Argentina; Santiago, Chile; São Paulo, Brazil; La Paz, Bolivia and Mexico City, Mexico -- families and individuals often are only permitted out of their homes for emergencies or to shop for necessary items. 3The Reuters news agency reported that each year in Latin America, almost 20 million women and girls suffer sexual and physical violence. 4During the lockdowns, there have been more reports of abuse in Mexico and Brazil. Other countries, including Chile and Bolivia, have seen a drop in official reports. However, legal experts and activists say this drop was likely not due to a decrease in violence. They say it is because women were less able to seek help or report abuse. 5Maria Noel Baeza is the regional director for UN Women, an organization designed to help women. She told Reuters, in a lockdown situation, "women are locked up with their own abusers" and have "very limited outlets," or ways to get help. 6Argentina 7Another group looking closely at this issue is the Victims Against Violence program in Argentina. This program runs a hotline for women to report abuse. Its founder, Eva Giberti, said that her group is not surprised by the increase in violence. 8Gilberti told Reuters that it is a release of "violence that was already there in people. She added that "under normal social circumstances that had been limited to some degree." 9Argentina's national lockdown began on March 20. Argentina's emergency hotline for abuse victims is supported by the country's justice ministry. That hotline has experienced a 67 percent rise in calls for help in April compared to a year earlier. 10Brazil 11In Brazil, Sao Paulo state has been hit the hardest by the new coronavirus. An organization called the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety reported a 45 percent increase in March compared to a year earlier in cases of violence against women requiring police assistance. 12Colombia 13In Colombia, officials report that calls to a national women's hotline were up nearly 130 percent during the first 18 days of the nationwide lockdown. The lockdown has been extended until May 11. 14Chile 15In Chile, the women's minister said calls to domestic abuse hotlines had increased 70 percent in the first weekend of lockdown. The government has added ways for women to receive counseling and are keeping shelters open for women at-risk. 16Evelyn Matthei is the mayor of Providencia, a wealthy area in Santiago. She said calls to a local office providing legal, psychological and social help had increased 500 percent. 17Official reports of domestic violence, however, actually decreased in the first half of April in Chile. Matthei said, "This probably has to do with the fact that there is violence within the home but that women cannot go out. They dare not go out." 18Mexico 19In Mexico, official records show that reports to police of domestic violence rose about 25 percent in March against a year earlier. 20The director of the Municipal Institute for Women of Veracruz is Blanca Aquino. She told Reuters that "since the lockdown, there's been an increase in reports of domestic violence -- many of those psychological violence." Veracruz is the Mexican state with the country's highest rate of female deaths. 21Arussi Unda is with a Mexican feminist organization named Brujas del Mar. She said at first many calls to the group came from neighbors hearing fights in other houses. "Now we get many women asking for advice on how to leave the house and take their children," she said. 22International concern 23The concern over domestic abuse is not limited to Latin America. There is a fear that victims are being silenced in other countries. 24Marta Dillon is one of the founders of the "Ni Una Menos" women's group. She said women around the world are working together to end domestic violence. Dillon told Reuters the group's supporters in Italy, Turkey, and the United States are working toward an international declaration for the group. 25I'm Anna Matteo. 26Reuters reported this story. Anna Matteo adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 27________________________________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29lockdown - n. the confinement of prisoners to their cells for a temporary period as a security measure 30hotline - n. a direct telephone line in constant operational readiness so as to facilitate immediate communication 31outlet - n. a way of releasing or expressing a feeling or impulse 32circumstance a condition or fact that affects a situation : the way something happens : the specific details of an event : an event or situation that you cannot control 33domestic - adj. relating to or involving someone's home or family 34dare - v. to have enough courage or confidence to do something : to not be too afraid to do something 35municipal - adj. restricted to one locality 36feminism - n. the belief that women and men should have equal rights and opportunities : feminist - adj.