On Monday, 6 July 2020 UNAIDS released her Global AIDS Update 2020 entitled “Seizing the Moment: Tackling entrenched inequalities to end epidemics”. It provides evidence of HIV service disruption and impact on LGBTI+ people due to COVID-19. The report highlights the likely impact that COVID-19 pandemic could have on low- and middle-income countries such as increased cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and interruptions on supplies of the generic antiretroviral medicines used to treat HIV among others. According to the report, Uganda reported the highest number of GBV cases in East, Central and Western Africa with 60% of girls and young women aged between 13 to 24 years having experienced one or more types of violence in childhood. In the same report, 72% of Uganda’s young population (aged 18–24 years) have also experienced one or more types of violence before the age of 18 while 25% of young women in Eastern Africa justify a husband beating up his wife.
Though the report lucks statistics of GBV during COVID-19 lockdown, GBV advocates from the East African countries have reported an increase in cases of GBV. For example in Kenya,GBV has become too much that victims fear coming out and has led to deaths.
In Tanzania, the story remains the same and activists are trying to change policies such as having a police form filled by the victim and not a medical personnel. Much as there is no access to data in Tanzania, cases have been reported on media channels are on the increase.
GBV is not alien to any woman in the region as it is one of the vices our governments have been trying to eradicate for a long time. A lot has been said and done but all we see are growing numbers that bring us public shame and scrutiny.
GBV fired up by unequal power dynamics, harmful gender norms and social constructs portraying men as a superior gender has promoted men’s dominance and control of women, including physical and sexual dominance which are the baseline of Gender Based Violence especially women and girls.
It is very sad that violence impacts the lives of hundreds of millions of women and girls, which has defined them, and has weighed in on competence in places of work, on the roads, at home and access to basic needs.
The report accounts that nearly one in three women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, nonpartner sexual violence or both in their lifetime and that more than one third of women are intentionally killed by a current or former intimate partner.
As the world is dealing with another pandemic spread by the coronavirus, cases of violence have risen especially among women living with HIV.
Alarms of women seeking justice have spread like wild fires in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda during the lockdown era enforced by the East African governments to prevent the spread of COVID – 19 in the communities.
The lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be amplifying existing gender inequalities and vulnerabilities among women and girls living with HIV.
During a Webinar on Addressing VAWG in East Africa during COVID-19 hosted by ICWEA, it was noted that East African countries have reported double the usual number of domestic abuse cases according to authorities, Media and Data available.
In Uganda alone, more than 5000 cases of domestic violence were recorded by the Uganda Police Force by the first month of the country’s lockdown.
Violence affects the physical and mental health survivors, limiting access to sexual and reproductive health services, and increases the risk of as some of these forms of violence have involved forced sex and limited or compromised negotiation of safer sex due to violence or fear of violence which has led to an increased risk of acquiring HIV and new infections.
The International Community of women living with HIV and its supporting partners continues to dedicate time and resources by making sure this vice is eradicated from existence.
ICWEA is therefore running a campaign “Violence Against Women and Girls during COVID-19” under the theme: Together we Raise to End Violence Against Women and Girls as part of the 365 Days of Activism launched in November last year.
CALL TO GOVERNMENTS & POLICY MAKERS.
We are also calling upon Governments of the five East African countries, all policymakers, Forums of HIV Advocates in East Africa other development partners to preach against GBV and advocate for proper service delivery during this time of COVID-19. It this err and timing, Gender should not be used as a yardstick to power, competence, and attribute.
