Impact of COVID-19 on
Gender-Based Violence
The COVID-19 pandemic is regarded as one of the
most severe public health crises in history,
significantly impacting the MENA region. These
effects have been compounded by pre-existing
inequalities, austerity measures, inadequate
governance, and ongoing conflict, occupation, and
displacement. Women and girls face the brunt of
these challenges, as patriarchal norms and
inequalities intensify in times of crisis. The
pandemic's gender-specific consequences are welldocumented: many women have lost jobs and
income-generating opportunities due to lockdowns
and economic downturns, while access to sexual and
reproductive health services had been severely
restricted. According to a recent 2023 Oxfam report,
41% of those expected to lose their jobs in the region
are women, whose economic participation is already
the lowest in the world at just 21%. Additionally,
there has been a troubling increase in gender-based
and domestic violence during the pandemic, with
limited access to support services exacerbated by
social distancing and lockdown measures (Salma
Jrad, 2023).
Even before the pandemic, digital platforms had
emerged as valuable, accessible, and cost-effective
tools for feminist and women’s rights organizations
(WROs) striving for social change. Throughout the
pandemic, despite various restrictions, these
organizations continued to provide essential support
and services to meet the needs of women and their
communities, greatly aided by online tools and
platforms. For example, Women Media and
Development (TAM) in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories utilizes social media to disseminate
information, raise awareness, and respond to
women's inquiries. Similarly, organizations like FeMale in Lebanon and Asswat Nissa, a youth-focused
feminist group in Tunisia, leverage social media to
create and share daily content aimed at young people
while promoting awareness of women's rights and
feminism.
The COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted severe damage
on women's rights globally, exacerbating risks for
women during crises, such as increased violence and
isolation from support systems. Notably, TFGBV
surged during this period, transforming the internet
—a space once considered a secure platform for
expression and support—into an unsafe
environment (Ingrid Brudvig, 2023, p. 2). Amnesty
International also highlights a significant escalation
in domestic violence, with its impact spilling into
the digital realm.
To conclude, the COVID-19 pandemic has
exacerbated the prevalence and impact of TFGBV,
turning the digital space into a hostile environment
for many women. The shift to online interactions
offered vital connectivity but it has also intensified
the risks of online harassment, doxxing, and nonconsensual sharing of images, further entrenching
existing gender inequalities. These acts of violence
undermine women’s access to essential resources,
such as education, healthcare, and economic
opportunities, perpetuating cycles of revictimization due to the permanence of abusive
content online.
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