Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and COVID-19

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, emerging data and reports from those on the front lines, have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, have intensified. The pandemic has painfully exposed the existing (health) inequalities and has further increased them, disproportionately impacting women and girls, particularly those who are already affected by disadvantaged conditions formed by the (social) determinants of health, including, low income, age, race, geographic location, migration status, disability, and health status.

1 in 3

Women experience physical or sexual violence by a partner

38%

Of all murders of women are committed by their intimate partners

45%

Of adolescent girls around the world report that their first sexual experience was forced

The Impact of Covid-19 on Violence against Women in Morocco

Crises always reinforce structural differences and injustices. The coronavirus pandemic affected women and girls worldwide, especially in countries like Morocco with widespread poverty, poor health care systems, and non-existent social protection. Violence against women in Morocco was already a pandemic in and of itself even prior to the COVID19 crisis, with 57% of women nationwide reporting having experienced at least one act of violence within the previous 12 months.

Despite the efforts made to publicize the existence of public services responsible for responding to violence against women, a large number of women victims were still unable to access the protection and services they needed during the state of health emergency. Lockdown measures and restrictions on movement created barriers to seeking assistance and reporting violence. Additionally, remote means for submitting complaints were not available to the good number of Moroccan women who lack the necessary reading skills, a computer or smartphone, and/or internet connections. Another major weakness is the State's response to violence against women; the total lack of clear legal guidelines, concrete procedures, standardized protocols, binding rules, or precise directives governing and supporting law enforcement, justice, and health sector officials in their application of the Penal and Penal Procedure Codes. During the state of health emergency, as in normal times, the lack of standardization of services meant that the response to violence against women differed from one community to another, and depended on the individual state actors involved.