Coronavirus and lockdown
Coronavirus and lockdown: Specialist organizations mobilize to ensure support and resources for victims of violence
Around the world, self-isolation and lockdown measures are in place to slow the spread of covid-19. However, these policies make it much more difficult for women victims of violence to access the resources they need.
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic abuse, contact the specialist organizations listed below, who remain mobilized to provide essential information and support in this complicated moment.
Specialist organizations and resources
Consult Chayn, which offers a chatbot for your questions and also provides tips, toolkits and a daily web support group. Many resources are available in multiple languages. See below:
- Do It Yourself Online Safety, available in English, French, Urdu, Arabic, Spanish, Russian, Italian, Farsi and Pashto
- How to Build Your Own Domestic Violence Case Without A Lawyer, available in English, Portuguese and Italian. This guide outlines how to collect and document evidence of abuse for divorce, criminal cases and/or child custody.
- Soul medicine, bite-size support to get out of toxic situations. Available in English, Urdu and Arabic
- A guide to coping with stress, available in English alongside other guides including The Good Friend Guide and Manipulation is Abuse Guide.
Support by country:
United Kingdom
Women’s Aid, the national federation that provides life-saving services to survivors of domestic violence. If you need support, contact:
- The live, fully confidential chat, open Monday to Sunday from 10 am – 6 pm
- The survivors’ Forum to speak with other women in a safe space
- Or consult their online resources including the Survivors Handbook to find out about legal rights and more
- You can also find your local service directly here
The National Hotline for Domestic Abuse is 0808 2000 247
In case of an emergency, call 999.
United States
The National Network to End Domestic Violence provides Information and Resources for survivors here. It has also created a Technology Safety & Privacy Toolkit for survivors.
You can also contact:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, TTY 1-800-787-3224, or by online chat.
The National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, or by online chat.
In case of an emergency, call 911.
France
La Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes (FNSF) continues to run the confidential National Violence Against Women hotline, 3919, open 7 days a week: Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day.
In addition, you can also contact:
- All local member organizations of the FNSF. Find the number to the organization closest to you here (page in French).
En Avant Toute(s) offers an online chat, completely free, anonymous and secure for victims of violence. The chat is open 6 days a week from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 9pm.
These resources are available in French only.
In case of an emergency, call 17
Italy
DiRe, the national federation of local organizations supporting survivors of violence. Contact your local organization here.
Chayn.it provides clear and comprehensive tools, information and support to women survivors and those who are close to them. Among them :
- Their guide on what to do in case of an emergency and how to report an assault or abuse to police
- Information on domestic and psychological abuse
- How to support someone in your life experiencing abuse
You can also contact:
The National Anti-violence Hotline 1522
These resources are available in Italian only.
In case of an emergency, call 112
For other European countries, visit WAVE, Women Against Violence Europe. This network provides a list of specialist organizations that combat violence against women and domestic violence. You can access their complete list here.