The shadow pandemic of domestic violence during COVID-19 | Kemi DaSilvaIbru

譯者: Claire Liang 審譯者: Amanda Zhu

We all know about the pandemic that has come to define 2020.

我們都知道，2020 年深受疫情影響，

Understandably, COVID-19 has dominated the world's agenda,

所以世界各國都將新冠肺炎 當作第一要務，

and mandatory lockdowns were introduced in many countries

很多國家也實施了封城，

to help control the spread of the virus.

以減緩病毒傳播。

For many of us, the lockdown was inconvenient.

對很多人而言，封城造成不便。

We couldn't go to our normal places of business,

我們無法像平常一樣去上班，

we couldn't visit family or friends,

不能拜訪家人或朋友，

and we couldn't socialize publicly.

也不能在公共場所社交。

But for some people, though,

但對某些人而言，

the freedom to get out of the house

能否自由外出

was not just a matter of convenience

不只是方便性的問題，

but of physical safety and even life or death.

而是關乎人身安全，甚至攸關生死。

Based on my work, I see the great majority of those vulnerable people are women,

基於工作關係，我發現 這個弱勢群體中大多是女性，

and this resonates with me,

我感同身受，

especially today as I give my talk from the safety of my home.

尤其是現在我能在家裡安心的演講。

As a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist,

身為婦產科醫生，

I'm all too aware of the prevalence of gender-based violence

我非常清楚在奈及利亞各地

in communities across Nigeria.

性別暴力有多普遍。

And this is why I founded

於是在 2016 年我成立了

the Women at Risk International Foundation, WARIF,

「國際受虐婦女基金會」（WARIF），

in 2016

in response to this.

以因應相關問題。

Global estimates published by the WHO indicate

世界衛生組織發佈的全球數據指出，

that one in three women worldwide have experienced an act of violence.

全球有三分之一的女性曾受暴力對待。

And this was before the lockdown.

這是在封城之前的情況。

In March, an increase in the number of cases of violence against women

三月，世界各地對女性施暴的案件

was becoming apparent across the world,

明顯增加，

amounting to a shadow pandemic that we are now faced with globally.

成為新冠肺炎疫情陰影下的 另一場「全球疫情」。

In France for example, there was a 30 percent increase

例如在法國，家暴案件數量

in the number of cases of domestic violence.

增加了 30%。

And in Argentina,

而在阿根廷，

emergency calls from domestic violence cases

家暴案件的緊急電話

increased by 25 percent.

增加了 25%。

In the first two weeks of the lockdown in Lagos State,

奈及利亞的拉格斯州封鎖後的頭兩週，

our emergency phone lines rang nonstop,

我們的緊急電話接不停，

and we recorded a 64 percent increase in calls

來電數量增加 64%，

from women trapped at home with their abusers,

都是與施虐者一起 困在家裡的婦女打來的，

in fear for their lives.

她們很擔心自己的安危。

By June, the authorities became aware of the shadow pandemic,

至六月，當局注意到這樣的情況，

and a state of emergency on rape

奈及利亞聯邦政府 因嚴重的性侵現象

was declared by the federal government of Nigeria.

宣佈全國進入緊急狀態。

As we fielded the distressing calls from girls and women, young and old,

我們接到各年齡層女性 令人痛心的來電，

we were able to help,

同時也積極幫助她們，

as thankfully, we kept the WARIF rape crisis center open

幸好，WARIF 的性暴力危機中心 在這段期間仍然開放，

as a refuge of last resort.

成為她們最後的避風港。

In the more remote areas,

在一些偏遠地區，

many women had to walk miles to receive any medical care and attention

許多女性需要走上數英里 才能獲得醫療照護，

as there was no transportation because of the lockdown.

這是因爲封城期間 沒有交通工具的關係。

They had no internet access to reach social media platforms,

她們沒有網路，無法使用社群媒體，

and they had limited phone services

而且電話不是到處都有，

to call a 24-hour confidential helpline or even a neighbor.

無法撥打 24 小時保密電話， 甚至無法打給鄰居。

So the situation for these women was much worse.

所以這些女性的處境更艱難。

Our solution in addressing this was this:

我們針對這個問題的解決方式是：

There are over 3,000 traditional birth attendants

拉格斯州現在有超過三千名傳統助產士

working in rural areas across Lagos State today.

在偏遠地區服務。

These are community-based men and women

社區亦培訓

who have been informally trained

男性和女性照護人員，

and provide basic health care to both women and expectant mothers.

為女性及懷孕婦女提供基本照護。

But none of them had received any form of training

但他們並沒有受過有關家暴的培訓，

on how to help women suffering from domestic violence.

所以不知道該如何幫助受害婦女。

We successfully trained 1,300 of these community gatekeepers

不過我們成功訓練了 1300 名人員把關社區，

as first responders

成為現場第一線人員，

in addressing the cases of violence against women

協助處理在各自社區中

發生的婦女受暴事件，

in their communities.

This meant that during the lockdown,

也就是說，在封城期間，

they were galvanized to go house to house in their communities

他們被動員至社區拜訪每一戶，

and with their training,

因為受過訓練，

were able to offer the necessary assistance

所以能提供必要的協助，

to women trapped at home, unable to receive care.

幫助受困在家、無法接受照護的女性。

Reports varied from verbal and emotional abuse

通報的案件情況各有不同， 有言語和情緒暴力，

to far worse beatings and sexual violence.

嚴重的還有毆打及性暴力。

But those home visits

但有了這些家訪服務，

served as an opportunity for these women to share their stories

讓受害女性有機會說出自己的故事，

and to receive the much needed care and support

同時接受極需要的照顧和支持，

that the traditional birth attendants offered.

與傳統助產士無異。

This program had been rolled out

這項計劃已經在當地

across an additional seven local communities

額外七個社區展開，

and has reached nearly 35,000 people,

已幫助了將近三萬五千人，

raising awareness of the shadow pandemic in these communities.

讓大家了解這個另類「疫情」的情況。

In the months to come,

在未來數月，

we plan on including our other gatekeepers,

我們將納入其它把關人員，

the law enforcement officials and the religious leaders,

也就是執法人員以及宗教領袖，

truly impacting on communities

在社區發揮影響力，

and on the safety and the lives of these women.

同時保護受害婦女的安全及生命。

As we embrace the new normal of working remotely from home

我們適應家中遠距工作，

and with online schooling,

以及線上學習的新常態，

it is more than likely

與此同時，很可能有更多婦女

that more women will be trapped at home with their abusers

被困在家中，與施暴者獨處，

and this shadow pandemic will persist.

讓這個另類疫情持續存在。

But I take hope and inspiration

相關工作人員的勇氣和決心

from the courage and determination

帶來希望，並鼓舞了我，

of the many who work to protect and support these women.

因為他們盡心盡力地 保護並支持這些婦女。

I have been awed by the unbelievable strength and the tenacity

在這段多難的期間，

這些女性展現出 驚人的力量，堅忍不拔，

that these women have shown during these precarious times

我相當敬佩。

and their ability to find their power in spite of all of this adversity.

儘管身處逆境，她們仍能找到力量。

So, with or without the pandemic,

所以，無論有沒有這個另類疫情，

the work to protect girls and women continues,

保護女孩和婦女的工作都不會停，

because every girl and woman,

因為每位女孩和婦女，

no matter what part of the world she lives,

不論身處在世界哪一個地方，

has the right to live in a society free of any form of violence against her.

都有權利

活在安全的社會， 不受任何型態的暴力對待。

Thank you.

謝謝。