LOS ANGELES, Dec 23 – Actress Nicole Kidman said yesterday that everyone has a part to play in ending violence against women and girls that has escalated into locks during coronavirus pandemic.
The Oscar-winning actress, who is a DA Women’s Friendship Ambassador, said her role in television series Big Little Lies She had taken a stand on strengthening violence against women, calling the spikes of lock-in abuse as “a pandemic. ”
Kidman said the play of lawyer and domestic abuse survivor Celeste on the successful HBO series had a personal impact on her.
“I felt very open and vulnerable and deeply ashamed of how I told her story – even though playing that character is nothing compared to what women are. the bad relationship is facing, ”Kidman said in a comment column in The Keeper newspaper.
The Australian actress said the stories of survivors she met during her work at the United Nations pushed her to give her voice to those who did not have a stage.
From Latin America to Europe, countries around the world have reported spikes in domestic violence against women during a pandemic-related lockout.
Last year, 243 million women and girls suffered sexual or physical violence from their partner, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the DA’s Director of Women Management said in November.
This year, reports of increased domestic violence, online bullying, child marriages, sexual harassment and sexual violence have surfaced, she said.
During a lockout earlier this year, Mexico and Colombia saw spikes of more than 50 percent in reports of violence against women and domestic abuse respectively.
Across Europe – from Bulgaria to Britain – countries reported up to a 60 per cent increase in emergency calls from women affected by violence by their partners in April.
Clear data has not yet been released from the second wave of tighter coronavirus restrictions across Europe and America but rights groups warned earlier in the year that many women were being separated at home by abusive partners.
In her column, Kidman linked to the DA’s Population Fund note in April that said every three months of lockout could lead to 15 million cases of gender-based violence.
Kidman, 53, said it was important to listen to survivors, have conversations with children about sex and consent, and use social media and community spaces to raise awareness.
“Everyone has a role and a role to play in contributing to the end of violence against women and girls, even through this pandemic,” she wrote.
“Violence against women and girls was already widespread before the pandemic. Whether he brings it out or not, it is up to us all. “- Thomson Reuters Foundation