‘We have tried to remain warm despite the rules.’ Domestic violence and COVID-19: implications for shelters’ policies and practices

Abstract

This article presents findings from a study that investigated the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic violence shelters’ policies and practices. This study was conducted in partnership with feminist organisations in two regions in the Quebec, Canada. Qualitative data were collected from nine domestic violence shelters, using a web-based questionnaire. Thematic content analysis was conducted using NVivo. The research findings reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic has created significant challenges for shelters, as they have had to ensure women’s and children’s safety while preventing the spread of the virus. In this context, they have had to adapt their services and practices, and it has sometimes been difficult to maintain their feminist approach. Nonetheless, shelters have been creative and have developed multiple strategies to overcome these challenges and to ensure women’s and children’s access to services. The research findings contribute to our understanding of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlight the essential role that these organisations have played to ensure women’s and children’s safety at a time when they have been particularly vulnerable.<br /><br />Key messages<br /><ul><li>The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant challenges for shelters, as they have had to ensure women’s and children’s safety while preventing the spread of the virus.</li><br /><li>In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, shelters have had to adapt their services and practices, and it has been difficult to maintain their feminist approach.</li><br /><li>Shelters have been creative and have developed multiple strategies to ensure women’s and children’s access to services during the COVID-19 pandemic.</li></ul>

Keď sa stratégia násilia stane spoločenskou normou: vplyv sociálnej izolácie na partnerské násilie na ženách

“…Sociálna izolácia ako opatrenie zabraňujúce šíreniu vírusu COVID-19 však nemala dopad len na ženy so skúsenosťou s partnerským násilím, ale aj na zariadenia poskytujúce im pomoc. Poskytovatelia služieb čelili okrem zvýšených nárokov na organizáciu práce, hygienické opatrenia a na potrebu rýchlo prispôsobovať svoje služby meniacim sa opatreniam (Lapierre et al, 2022;Carrington et al, 2021;Očenášová, 2021a) aj výzvam, ako balansovať medzi protirečiacimi si potrebami ochrany zdravia klientely a pracovníčok a filozofiou a štandardmi služieb pre ženy zažívajúce násilie. Hygienické opatrenia nútili najmä ubytovacie zariadenia uplatňovať istú mieru kontroly a izolácie klientok a ich detí a tým čiastočne replikovať násilné stratégie.…”

“…Zároveň je to tiež v rozpore s princípmi služieb ako posilnenie autonómie žien a ich rozhodovacích kompetencií. Tento aspekt dopadu pandémie na poskytovanie služieb pre ženy zažívajúce násilie je v literatúre zatiaľ reflektovaný len výnimočne (Nnawulezi, Hacskalyo, 2021;Lapierre et al, 2022), avšak skúmanie stratégií, ako sa s touto situáciou služby a ich klientky vyrovnávali, môže otvoriť užitočnú diskusiu o dôležitosti týchto princípov pri poskytovaní špecializovaných služieb.…”

Experiences of Women Accessing Violence Against Women Outreach Services in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Brief Report

“…Others delayed help-seeking in person due to concerns about contracting COVID-19, particularly in shelters (Trudell & Whitmore, 2020;Women's Shelters Canada, 2020). Overall, help-seeking became more complicated, and decision-makers at various levels were challenged to provide VAW services safely and effectively during a pandemic (Butler et al, 2022;Lapierre et al, 2022;Petersson & Hansson, 2022).…”