COVID-19 & Domestic Abuse
THE IMPACT OF LOCKDOWN ON CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC ABUSE
Increased risk of harm & trauma:
Increased risk and increased intensity of domestic abuse during lockdown, as reported by child protection data and specialist services. Children and young people living with perpetrators during lockdown with no/very limited access to support. Perpetrators are using child contact arrangements put in place post-separation to continue to abuse children, young people and women. Sustained trauma from current/previous experiences of domestic abuse impacts on mental health and wellbeing.
Lack of access to services & support:
Barriers to accessing virtual support e.g., lack of safe/private space, lack of access to technology. Difficult to engage very young children or children with additional needs virtually. Schools closed and reduced access to other services results in many children’s experiences of domestic abuse being ‘hidden’.
FURTHER INFO (click on the links to view)
• What lockdown is like for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse: animations co-produced by young survivors and Scottish Women’s Aid (2020)
• Cedar blog on domestic abuse recovery and children and young people (2020)
• Young people’s recommendations for improvements to services, justice and societal attitudes towards gender-based violence: Everyday Heroes reports (2018)
• COVID-19 Children, young people & families evidence & intelligence reports (Scottish Government & SOLACE, 2020)
• COVID 19 Justice Analytical Services report on domestic abuse and other forms of VAWG (Scottish Government, 2020)
• Supplementary National VAW Guidance (Scottish Government and COSLA, 2020)