Inter(national) recommendations to face violence against women and girls in COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This article is an integral part of the research “Violence in the context of COVID-19: global challenges and vulnerabilities”, which pro-poses a critical reflection on situations of gender-based violence increased by social distancing protocols, required by the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a 2020 literature survey, we have analy-zed recommendations made by researchers and institutions from different countries around the world, with the aim of systematizing and disse-minating strategies to deal with this scenario. The material is organized into two thematic areas, namely: gender policies and intersectoral actions; and strategies to face violence against women and children in the health and social work field. The recommendations are focused on the development of actions by States/governments, service networks and society in general. Part of the recommendations suggest increasing or adapting existing surveillance actions and part of them contribute with creative proposals, guiding pro-motional and preventive actions at an individual and collective level. The adoption of teleassis-tance, media campaigns raising awareness that violence is unjustifiable and the development of reporting strategies through signs and codes have been reiterated in the literature.