Assess three possible factors that contributed to an increase in gender based violence during COVID pandemic
As an AI language model, I do not have personal opinions, but here are three possible factors that might have contributed to an increase in gender-based violence during the COVID pandemic:
1. Economic stress: The lockdowns and economic consequences of the pandemic led to job losses, income reduction and poverty, which increased economic stress on households. Increased economic stress has been found to be a significant risk factor for intimate partner violence and other forms of gender-based violence.
2. Isolation and reduced social support: The lockdowns and physical distancing measures put in place to control the spread of the virus led to social isolation and reduced social support for those at risk of gender-based violence. Social isolation reduces access to friends, family members, and support systems, making it more difficult for those at risk to seek help or escape violent situations.
3. Limited access to support services: Many essential services such as counseling, legal, and medical support services were scaled back or disrupted due to restrictions in movement and the reallocation of resources towards the COVID-19 response. Such changes further limited the options available to victims of gender-based violence who rely on these services.