Article Text

Original research
Emerging responses implemented to prevent and respond to violence against women and children in WHO European member states during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review of online media reports
  1. Isabelle Pearson1,
  2. Nadia Butler2,
  3. Zhamin Yelgezekova3,
  4. Åsa Nihlén3,
  5. Isabel Yordi Aguirre3,
  6. Zara Quigg2,
  7. Heidi Stöckl1
  1. 1Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
  2. 2Public Health Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
  3. 3World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
  1. Correspondence to Isabelle Pearson; isabelle.pearson{at}lshtm.ac.uk

Abstract

Objectives This study aims to explore the strategies that governments and civil society organisations implemented to prevent and respond to the anticipated rise in violence against women and/or children (VAWC) during the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Design A scoping review and content analysis of online media reports.

Setting WHO European region.

Methods A scoping review of media reports and publications and a search of other grey literature (published from 1 January to 17 September 2020). Primary and secondary outcome measures included measures implemented by governments, public services and non-governmental and civil organisations to prevent or respond to VAWC during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results Our study found that in 52 of the 53 member states there was at least one measure undertaken to prevent or respond to VAWC during the pandemic. Government-led or government-sponsored measures were the most common, reported in 50 member states. Non-governmental and other civil society-led prevention and response measures were reported in 40 member states. The most common measure was the use of media and social media to raise awareness of VAWC and to provide VAWC services through online platforms, followed by measures taken to expand and/or maintain helpline services for those exposed to violence.

Conclusion The potential increase in VAWC during COVID-19-imposed restrictions and lockdowns resulted in adaptations and/or increases in prevention and response strategies in nearly all member states. The strength of existing public health systems influenced the requirement and choice of strategies and highlights the need for sustaining and improving violence prevention and response services. Innovative strategies employed in several member states may offer opportunities for countries to strengthen prevention and responses in the near future and during similar emergencies.

  • public health
  • child protection
  • COVID-19

Data availability statement

All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Data availability statement

All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.

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Footnotes

  • Twitter @Isabellepson, @zeequigg

  • Contributors All authors contributed to the development of the study protocol and the planning of the paper, provided feedback on all drafts of the paper and edited the final manuscript. IP, NB and ZY conducted the media, publication and grey literature searches (IP and NB in English, ZY in Russian) and content analysis. IP was the lead author of the article. All authors approved the final manuscript.

  • Funding This work was supported by WHO Europe grant number WHO Ref 2020/1021489.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

  • Author note All references to Kosovo in this document should be understood to be in the context of the United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).

  • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.