Amnesty International reports that during the COVID-19 lockdowns imposed by Southern African countries, many homes became dangerous environments for women and girls. The lockdowns, meant to curb the spread of the virus, inadvertently trapped many women and girls with abusive family members, leaving them with no safe way to report or escape the violence. According to the report, Amnesty International highlights that harmful gender stereotypes, deeply rooted in social and cultural norms, exacerbated the situation. These stereotypes suggest that women must always submit to men, and in some cases, it is believed that a man who beats his wife does so out of love. This toxic belief has contributed to a rise in violence against women and girls in Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International's…
