Abused in the secrecy of confinement
Photo: Pavel Golovkin Associated Press The number of domestic violence complaints has decreased,
yet shelters are receiving more calls than normal.
yet shelters are receiving more calls than normal.
The irregularity of the reports of victims of domestic violence worries the organizations that help them since, since the beginning
of the pandemic, many of them have telephoned to obtain a place in a shelter, but not to appear there finally.
"The fear of contracting the virus, of managing joint custody and the uncertainty of the context of the pandemic lead several women
to ultimately not show up at the shelter where a place had been found for them," laments Manon Monastesse , Director General of the Federation of Women's Shelters. So far, no case has been identified in the 36 shelters that the Federation regroups.
The phone does not go off the hook, but the busiest periods are at night and on weekends, when their attacker is not close to these women.
"More and more women communicate with us through social media, because it is sometimes more subtle for them to do so in writing," said Ms. Monastesse. In addition, calls interspersed are also increasing, women trying to hide from their violent partner
and fearing to be surprised by the latter in the middle of a conversation.
of the pandemic, many of them have telephoned to obtain a place in a shelter, but not to appear there finally.
"The fear of contracting the virus, of managing joint custody and the uncertainty of the context of the pandemic lead several women
to ultimately not show up at the shelter where a place had been found for them," laments Manon Monastesse , Director General of the Federation of Women's Shelters. So far, no case has been identified in the 36 shelters that the Federation regroups.
The phone does not go off the hook, but the busiest periods are at night and on weekends, when their attacker is not close to these women.
"More and more women communicate with us through social media, because it is sometimes more subtle for them to do so in writing," said Ms. Monastesse. In addition, calls interspersed are also increasing, women trying to hide from their violent partner
and fearing to be surprised by the latter in the middle of a conversation.
SOS violence conjugale, which offers a telephone assistance service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, has also seen a 20% increase in calls
to its services compared to the same period last year. The organization also notes that victims make
more use of social media to report the violence they suffer.
"We receive a lot of messages on our Facebook page as well as many emails," says Claudine Thibaudeau, of SOS violence conjugale.
The containment recommended by Quebec and Ottawa since mid-March to limit the spread of the virus puts victims at the heart of
many triggers. Abusive spouses attempt to use the climate of uncertainty to increase their power over their spouses.
"The effects of the pandemic are sometimes even used against women by their attackers," explains Ms. Thibaudeau. An assailant told
his spouse that if she left the house, she could not come in again because she could be infected. It is sometimes about sequestration.
Women are denied exit on the pretext of the pandemic. They are isolated. "
In Montreal, the number of reports of spousal violence made to the police dropped by 15% for the period from March 19 to April 26.
The average was 704 calls from 2017 to 2019. This year, 600 were recorded.
"We may have fewer calls, but that does not mean that there is less domestic violence in the homes,"
notes Inspector André Durocher, of the City of Montreal Police Service.
In Quebec, for the period from March 12 to April 19, an increase in calls was observed. "Our most recent data reveals that there have been
207 family chicane calls compared to an average of 156 for the same period in recent years," says Étienne Doyon, from the Quebec City Police Service. . These data include cases of domestic violence, but also family altercations between a parent and their child, for example.
“What we note is that when women arrive, it is often in a crisis. They arrive accompanied by a police officer and what we see, to our
great disappointment, is that they suffered much more severe violence than what we saw before the pandemic, "said Ms. Monastesse.
Since they are always with their attacker, the cycle of violence is often accelerated. “The episodes are multiplying and they have little respite, because they no longer go out to work. Children are also exposed to these situations because
they do not have a school, ”continues Ms. Monastesse.
to its services compared to the same period last year. The organization also notes that victims make
more use of social media to report the violence they suffer.
"We receive a lot of messages on our Facebook page as well as many emails," says Claudine Thibaudeau, of SOS violence conjugale.
The containment recommended by Quebec and Ottawa since mid-March to limit the spread of the virus puts victims at the heart of
many triggers. Abusive spouses attempt to use the climate of uncertainty to increase their power over their spouses.
"The effects of the pandemic are sometimes even used against women by their attackers," explains Ms. Thibaudeau. An assailant told
his spouse that if she left the house, she could not come in again because she could be infected. It is sometimes about sequestration.
Women are denied exit on the pretext of the pandemic. They are isolated. "
In Montreal, the number of reports of spousal violence made to the police dropped by 15% for the period from March 19 to April 26.
The average was 704 calls from 2017 to 2019. This year, 600 were recorded.
"We may have fewer calls, but that does not mean that there is less domestic violence in the homes,"
notes Inspector André Durocher, of the City of Montreal Police Service.
In Quebec, for the period from March 12 to April 19, an increase in calls was observed. "Our most recent data reveals that there have been
207 family chicane calls compared to an average of 156 for the same period in recent years," says Étienne Doyon, from the Quebec City Police Service. . These data include cases of domestic violence, but also family altercations between a parent and their child, for example.
“What we note is that when women arrive, it is often in a crisis. They arrive accompanied by a police officer and what we see, to our
great disappointment, is that they suffered much more severe violence than what we saw before the pandemic, "said Ms. Monastesse.
Since they are always with their attacker, the cycle of violence is often accelerated. “The episodes are multiplying and they have little respite, because they no longer go out to work. Children are also exposed to these situations because
they do not have a school, ”continues Ms. Monastesse.
Anticipated recrudescence
The “sawtooth” effect observed in recent weeks is worrying shelters as the large Montreal area approaches deconfinement. "The ability to
leave a spouse was more difficult and in some areas [that have been déconfinées], we saw an increase in requests for shelter," said M me Monastesse. Some homes have an occupancy rate of 120%, she says.
Coping with the pandemic also carries significant costs for shelters, which have not only had to redevelop the premises, but also ensure that women have enough to eat. “We had a lot of partnerships for free food which unfortunately could not continue due to COVID-19. Right now,
the measures cost 5000 to $ 10 000 a month more for each shelter, "says M me Monastesse.
A few days before the start of confinement, Quebec had announced significant sums in its 2020 budget for the fight against domestic violence.
Investments of $ 181 million over five years had been announced to improve the government's plan to combat domestic violence and
the services offered by shelters. Of this sum, a budget of 120 million is reserved for them for the next five years, so that they ensure the "sustainability" of their services and that they adapt them to women in vulnerable situations.
“It was good news for us. We have to sit down with the ministry for the rest, because the pandemic has led us to
implement measures that are costly, ”notes Ms. Monastesse.
The “sawtooth” effect observed in recent weeks is worrying shelters as the large Montreal area approaches deconfinement. "The ability to
leave a spouse was more difficult and in some areas [that have been déconfinées], we saw an increase in requests for shelter," said M me Monastesse. Some homes have an occupancy rate of 120%, she says.
Coping with the pandemic also carries significant costs for shelters, which have not only had to redevelop the premises, but also ensure that women have enough to eat. “We had a lot of partnerships for free food which unfortunately could not continue due to COVID-19. Right now,
the measures cost 5000 to $ 10 000 a month more for each shelter, "says M me Monastesse.
A few days before the start of confinement, Quebec had announced significant sums in its 2020 budget for the fight against domestic violence.
Investments of $ 181 million over five years had been announced to improve the government's plan to combat domestic violence and
the services offered by shelters. Of this sum, a budget of 120 million is reserved for them for the next five years, so that they ensure the "sustainability" of their services and that they adapt them to women in vulnerable situations.
“It was good news for us. We have to sit down with the ministry for the rest, because the pandemic has led us to
implement measures that are costly, ”notes Ms. Monastesse.
- If you are a victim of domestic violence, you can call the SOS domestic violence emergency line at 1 800 363-9010.
- If you need help, don't hesitate to call the Quebec Suicide Prevention Line at 1 866 277-3553 or a victim assistance center for victims of crime (CAVAC) at 1 866 532-2822.