Framework in Ending Violence Against women and Girls with the Advent of the COVID 19 from an African Perspective

Abstract

With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, women’s organizations, human rights activists, governments, non-governmental organizations and even the United Nations are decrying the surge in incidences of violence against women and girls all over the world. Though African countries have been among the last to be hit by the global coronavirus pandemic, evidence from Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, etc, demonstrate increase in the prevalence of domestic, sexual and other types of violence against women as governments enforce measures to curb the pandemic. As these measures hit more and more on restrictions of movement, lockdowns with widespread socio-economic fallout and business slows to a near halt the continent is beginning to register more cases of gender related violence. (Ndedi, 2020). The emerging evidence of the impact of the pandemic of COVID-19 on violence against women and girls, therefore, needs urgent attention regarding prevention and response. In this paper, we are strengthening existing strategies to end VAW with innovative, practical but transformative actions to be considered by all sectors of society, from households, to civil society organisations, governments to international organisations, in order to prevent and respond to violence against women, during, and after this public health crisis. The paper draws upon the knowledge and experience of a wide range of experts who support solutions to end violence against women and girls, on the ground, including during this time of covid19 management.