On 30 June 2020, AWARE made a submission to the the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women. Our submission focused on COVID-19 and the increase of domestic violence against women.

Compared to the same period last year, the AWARE Women’s Helpline has received a 65%, 119%, and 137% increase in the number of family violence calls in March, April and May 2020 respectively.

Our submission highlighted the barriers that women in Singapore face in accessing support and justice during the pandemic—including a limit on court cases heard and a poor public understanding of domestic violence and intervention methods.

Our report also drew attention to the particular vulnerability of migrant spouses, domestic workers and LGTBQ+ persons to domestic violence.

Questions the report addresses

• To what extent has there been an increase of violence against women, especially domestic violence in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns? Please provide all available data on the increase of violence against women, including domestic violence and femicides, registered during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Are helplines run by Government and/or civil society available? Has there been an increase in the number of calls in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic?
• Are shelters open and available? Are there any alternatives to shelters available if they are closed or without sufficient capacity?
• Are protection orders available and accessible in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic?
• What are the impacts on women’s access to justice? Are courts open and providing protection and decisions in cases of domestic violence?
• Please provide examples of obstacles encountered to prevent and combat domestic violence during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Read our full OHCHR report here.