One in two women report that they or someone they know have experienced violence since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a study commissioned by UN Women.
It says that violence against women has become what it terms a “shadow pandemic”.
Women have also reported feeling less safe at home as conflicts between adults living together has increased.
Furthermore, the research suggests that three in five women think that sexual harassment in public spaces has worsened since the pandemic, which has limited their access to employment, essential services and recreational activities.
Out of the 13 countries surveyed, Kenya recorded the largest proportion of women – 80% – who said that they or a woman they know had been the victims of violence since the outbreak of the pandemic.
For Morocco the figure was 69% and for Nigeria it was 48%
The UN Women’s report was released at the start of what’s known as the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.
