Avoiding public spaces and working remotely can help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but for many survivors, staying home may not be the safest option. We know that any external factors that add stress and financial strain can negatively impact survivors and create circumstances where their safety is further compromised.
When survivors are forced to stay in the home or in close proximity to their abuser more frequently, an abuser can use any tool to exert control over their victim, including a national health concern such as COVID-19 pandemic. In a time where government and public health agencies are encouraging “social distancing,” an abuser may take advantage of an already stressful situation to gain more control.
The MKO Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Liaison Unit has created the following poster and document identifying resources and services available to survivors of violence during the COVID-19 pandemic:
