Since the outbreak of the pandemic covid 19, violence against women & girls has escalated in countries around the world, especially in Africa.
There have also been many cases of women and girls at risk in their homes due to the confinement linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Confinement measures have prevented women from escaping their abusive partners or leaving their homes to seek protection.
In Africa, women who have experienced gender-based violence found it difficult to report the facts, as the people and organizations working to protect and support these victims were not considered an "essential service"; these women victims of violence were therefore faced with strict travel restrictions, so much so that they gave up filing a complaint.
States around the world must ensure that women and girls continue to benefit from police and justice protection as well as shelters and other support services to escape the scourge of gender-based violence.