State and nationwide restrictions implemented to prevent COVID-19 from spreading are unintentionally putting thousands of people at risk of sexual abuse and violence. While many individuals are spending quarantine working from home or taking care of family members, those living in abusive environments are trapped with their attackers and isolated from help in their communities. The pandemic has inadvertently created tremendous difficulties for victims of abuse and will leave a lasting impact on survivors and advocate groups until coronavirus restrictions can be permanently lifted in New Mexico and beyond.
Women living in emotionally, verbally, or physically abusive relationships are in more frequent proximity with their perpetrators in quarantine. Shelter-in-place orders may be making it more difficult for victims to access resources that are typically available in person, including services like counseling centers and domestic violence shelters. In situations where abusers are unemployed or are working remotely, victims may also have a hard time seeking resources online or over the phone without tipping off their abusers.
Women living in emotionally, verbally, or physically abusive relationships are in more frequent proximity with their perpetrators in quarantine.
It’s unclear whether or not reported cases of violence have risen during the pandemic. Depending on the location in the United States, calls reporting abuse cases have either dramatically risen or declined since mandatory lockdowns were implemented in March. Both scenarios, however, cause room for concern.
Children in particular are spending more time at home as many schools are closed or are operating virtually. As a result, many children have limited access to adults outside of their homes and cases of abuse and neglect are going unreported. In other cases, children themselves are calling sexual abuse hotlines to report unseen abuse. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) has reported that over 50% of their hotline users since March 1st, 2020 have been minors.
Overall, the pandemic is placing a greater number of families under intense physical, emotional, and financial stress, which can intensify conditions for children and individuals at risk of violence. Fortunately, local resources in New Mexico are adjusting to the needs of children and families living in abusive households during the pandemic. The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) developed a training program to better equip Albuquerque Public School educators with the tools to recognize abuse and neglect virtually. This includes noticing behavioral changes in students, students’ participation levels, background environments, and other indicators or signs of abuse.
Overall, the pandemic is placing a greater number of families under intense physical, emotional, and financial stress, which can intensify conditions for children and individuals at risk of violence.
Other avenues are also being made available to victims of sexual abuse or violence at both state and national levels. As COVID-19 restrictions have closed courts and hindered the rights of abuse survivors, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo recently extended the NY Child Victims Act to allow survivors of childhood sexual abuse more time to file cases against their abusers. Survivors now have until August 14, 2021 to file claims under the CVA.
RAINN is also currently pushing for legislation known as the Child Rescue Act, which will “help ensure that children experiencing abuse can be identified and removed from harm as soon as possible.” The Act would establish a team of organizations and law enforcement agencies, including RAINN, the FBI, and the Department of Justice, to join forces in order to identify perpetrators and remove children from harmful environments. The Child Rescue Act was introduced by a bipartisan group of Congress members and was led by Representatives Abigail Spanberger and Ben Cline.
Even amidst the pandemic, Crossroads for Women continues to offer support services for women recovering from trauma and other painful experiences. Services include transitional and permanent supportive housing, therapeutic services, and peer-on-peer support. Learn more about Crossroads and the programs available here.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or violence in their home, contact a New Mexico Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC) advocate via their 24-hr hotline: 505-248-3165.