Review of exponential rise in domestic violence amid COVID-19: theories and perspectives

Abstract

The need for continuous research on domestic violence could be more espoused by the exponential increase in domestic violence, such that characterized the global reign of corona virus. Domestic violence cases have been on the rise in South Africa since 1994; and despite the existence of legal protections and statutory instruments that attempt to hinder domestic violence, there continues to be prevalence of violent behaviours across different families. Indisputably, the outbreak of coronavirus has created myriads of consequences for justice system in South Africa and the world at large. Due to the outbreak, the South African government announced a lockdown to mitigate the spread of the virus. Nonetheless, within a span of one week of the lockdown, the South African Police Services (SAPS) reported a shocking rise in the number of gender-based violence cases, which was approximately reported as 89000. The lockdown primarily suggests that victims be locked with the perpetrators for a period until it is deemed safe to end the lockdown. Using a systematic review of the empirical literature, the paper provides a quadripartite criminological perspective (comprising differential association theory, classical theory, frustration-aggression theory and social bond theory) on the rise of domestic violence during the outbreak of the virus. It further explores the aftermaths of COVID-19 on criminal justice system in terms of dealing with diverse cases of domestic violence in the Republic. Factors pertaining to issues of access to justice system during the lockdown, poor police response and victim reporting, sense of helplessness by victims, delayed justice, as well as victim support, system are significantly evaluated

Domestic violence and mental health during COVID‐19

“…Only two included studies were conducted in middle-income countries (India and Mexico) and none in low-income countries. However, elevated GBV during the pandemic has been reported by studies employing a range of methods in LMICs, including Egypt, 42 Ethiopia, 43 Ghana, 44 South Africa, 45 Bangladesh, 46 Turkey, 47 Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. 48 The rapidity with which such research was conducted and logistical constraints impacted study designs, limiting interpretations of findings and comparisons between countries, and some relevant studies may still be in the process of publication.…”

“…Proposed reasons for increased DVA during the pandemic include stress arising from economic impacts of COVID-19 restrictions, increased contact between partners living in close proximity, exacerbation of inequality between partners (due to unemployment or responsibility for childcare and home schooling), worsening substance use, greater opportunities to control partners' movement (including cyber abuse) or access to protective equipment, victim-survivors' reduced access to support, referrals, friends and family, and inadequate police and criminal justice responses. 45,51 A UK National Police Chiefs Council report on domestic homicides and suspected victim suicides during COVID-19 characterised perpetrators as 'weaponising' the pandemic as a new tool of control, using it to excuse DVA, and even femicide. 52 This assertion was supported by small samples of women participating in UK Women's Aid survivor surveys during the first lockdown.…”