Domestic Violence Has Soared In HK, Group Says

The Federation of Women's Centres says it has recorded a surge in domestic violence cases during the coronavirus pandemic, with 34 victims seeking the Federation's help from January to March, compared to just 16 cases over the same period last year.

Director Sisi Liu said on Saturday that the virus outbreak has forced people to stay home, which might not be safe for domestic abuse victims.

Liu said victims have also felt more helpless because many NGOs and government departments were closed at the height of the epidemic.

She urged the government to give subsidies to victims so they could move into hotels.

She cited one example of a woman seeking to apply for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance on her own, but was told she needed to apply for a divorce first, even though the courts were closed because of the pandemic.

The United Nations said late last month that the coronavirus lockdown could lead to a 20 percent surge in domestic violence around the world as victims remain trapped at home with their abusers, warning that the pandemic would have a "catastrophic impact" on women.

A UN body which led the research also said that every three months of lockdown could result in 15 million more cases of domestic abuse than would normally be expected.