Refugee women in Africa say domestic violence rose during pandemic
NITA BHALLA MORE than 70% of displaced and refugee women in Africa have seen a rise in domestic violence in their communities during the coronavirus pandemic, a newly-published survey has found. More than half the 850 women interviewed in 15 African nations also reported a rise in sexual violence and almost one in three had observed growth in early and forced marriage, said the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Lockdowns to curb the spread of COVID-19 have fuelled an upsurge in gender-based violence (GBV) across the world, with victims forced to spend more time with their abusers and prevented from seeking…