One of the phrases that we’ve heard time and again during the COVID-19 pandemic is that we’re “safer at home” and not out where we can be exposed to the virus.
However, for all too many out there, it’s not such a clear cut choice. Home, which is supposed to be a safe, secure place, just isn’t, and BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire wanted to bring some attention to that fact.
Derbyshire is, like every other journalist, covering all the coronavirus news that’s consuming the world right now.
However, viewers tuning into one of her recent broadcasts noticed something a bit different about her – she had some writing on the back of her hand, which is the sort of thing that would usually get washed off or covered up before going to air.
Turns out, Derbyshire had left it there very much on purpose.
The writing on Derbyshire’s hand was the number for Britain’s domestic abuse helpline.
With people forced to stay in their homes during coronavirus lockdowns, domestic abuse victims are at greatly increased risk of harm and have little hope of escape.
Since Britain adopted isolation measure for the pandemic, Britain’s national domestic abuse hotline has reported a 25% increase in calls and a 150% increase to its website traffic, CBS News reported.
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Derbyshire said that she wanted to do something to get the number out there for those who might need it.
“Two women a week were killed by a partner or ex before coronavirus. A fact that is shocking enough,” Derbyshire told The Independent .
“Now, some people will be trapped with a violent perpetrator in self-isolation or partial lockdown and it’s even more vital to get the helpline number out there so people know there is someone right now available to take your call and help you if you are in a violent or threatening situation.”
So it was no accident that the number for the hotline made it to air on Derbyshire’s hand.
“I’d written the number on my hand to tweet a photo of it at 7am this morning and left it on my skin deliberately in case it could help any of the millions watching after 9am on BBC 1.”
Viewers took notice, even if they didn’t immediately recognize the number, and praised Derbyshire for her gesture.
“Thank you for using your platform to bring awareness to this very important issue,” wrote one person on Twitter .
“This is fantastic what a fab way to get the number out there,” someone else tweeted .
“Victoria Derbyshire is a hero,” wrote another person.
While Britain’s national helpline has seen more traffic during the outbreak, some areas have reported decreases, but that’s no less concerning.
As Suzanne Jacob, chief executive of the domestic abuse charity Safelives, told CBS News , it’s troubling to see a decline in calls.
“There’s a very quickly rising need,” Jacob said, “but in some places, actually we’ve seen a decrease in that, and that is just as worrying to us, because it probably means that there’s suppression of somebody who’s trying to access help but can’t find the means.”
The people trying to help domestic abuse victims have had to start thinking outside the box during the pandemic.
Paris saw a 36% spike in domestic violence following the coronavirus lockdown, so French authorities came up with a system where domestic abuse victims can signal a need for help by providing a code word to pharmacists, ABC News reported.
The pharmacy will contact police, who will then be able to intervene. Spain also uses a similar system.
h/t: The Independent , CBS News , ABC News
