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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWomen are using code words at pharmacies to escape domestic violence during lockdown
(CNN) On Sunday, a woman walked into a pharmacy in the French city of Nancy, one of the few public places still open after the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of a dangerous virus.
But the woman wasn't there for medicine; she was there to tell the pharmacist that her partner had abused her. Soon after, the woman's spouse was arrested by police.
As the coronavirus pandemic forces countries everywhere to take unprecedented steps to restrict the movement of their citizens, victims of domestic violence have suddenly found themselves trapped at home with their abusive partners. Some are unable -- or too afraid -- to call the police, experts say.
So France, inspired by a similar scheme in Spain, has started telling victims to head to drugstores. If they can't talk openly in the store, they can simply say the codeword "mask 19" to the pharmacist behind the counter. The woman in Nancy was the first to seek help since the government launched the initiative last week, the spokesperson for Marlene Schiappa, the French minister for equality, told CNN.
As lockdown measures across Europe get stricter, charities and police forces are raising the alarm over a potential spike in domestic violence. Being confined at home with their abuser makes victims more vulnerable, because there is no escape.
(Read More) https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/02/europe/domestic-violence-coronavirus-lockdown-intl/index.html
EllieBC
(3,014 posts)is a huge unintended consequence. Yet I feel like they will be overlooked.
uppityperson
(115,677 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Hekate
(90,683 posts)...a safe multi-story apartment house for the women and children. Seriously, lots of sympathy for anyone being abused, and no sarcasm whatsoever.
gibraltar72
(7,504 posts)Faux pas
(14,677 posts)SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)👏👍
That's very, very clever.
crickets
(25,979 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,654 posts)lambchopp59
(2,809 posts)It took one long, arduous, expensive and roundabout litigation to impose protective measures, including placing my late father in a lock-down nursing home to end the nightmare of abuse my mother was disability-trapped in some years back now. Numerous visits from the local sherriff's representatives helped the process. My dad didn't help his own free-dum case by pulling a gun on his caregiver, who quit immediately and instigated major family intervention.
Although my mother couldn't have been helped by this system by her own inept memory issues, this sounds like a plan that could help countless others. I envision the "get me a G-D beer, woman" Duck Dienasty types in handcuffs to the sounds of my applause.
CaptYossarian
(6,448 posts)the "day after" pill.
Being a safe haven for women might be a stretch for these knuckle-draggers.
Grins
(7,217 posts)Same thing was mentioned in David Halberstram's book on the auto industry ("The Reckoning") when GM/Ford/Chrysler were hit in late 1973 with both high gas prices because of the oil embargo, and Japanese imports that were cheaper, had far better MPG, and had MUCH higher quality.
A huge drop in sales and they had to lay-off thousands. And because of that, spousal abuse in the Detroit area jumped 40%.
Still a great book. I may have to re-read it.
magicarpet
(14,150 posts)... so the victimization comes to a halt.
Men go stir crazy, women get beaten up.
Or USA, USA, USA - - the women get shot.
SpankMe
(2,957 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)FailureToCommunicate
(14,014 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)marble falls
(57,081 posts)we need to implement a program right now in the US.
I loathe bullies.
LittleGirl
(8,287 posts)Nancy France is about 2 hours from me. Im so happy she sought help!
bluecollar2
(3,622 posts)malaise
(268,997 posts)Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)And the divorce rate skyrockets as well.
roamer65
(36,745 posts)We should copy it.
live love laugh
(13,109 posts)I predict many bad situations will arise with people living in close quarters under financial stress.
I hope Im wrong.
imavoter
(646 posts)that's awful
colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)We definitely should have something similar.
niyad
(113,302 posts)But we have the misogynist in chief.
BigmanPigman
(51,590 posts)around the world right now will still not help an abused woman, virus lockdown or no lockdown. The right people need to be locked up, not locked down. Lock up the abusers! Yeah for Spain and France.