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Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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FACT BRIEF

Has there recently been a worldwide rise in violence against women?

By Lisa Freedland
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YES

Violence against women appears to have increased around the world since the coronavirus pandemic began in early 2020.

A 2020 literature review conducted by the Center for Global Development, a think tank focused on global economic issues, looked at 30 studies examining the incidence of violence against women. The studies were conducted in countries including the U.S., Argentina, Uganda, India and Bangladesh, and collected data in different ways, from conducting interviews with participants to keeping track of calls made to domestic violence helplines. Just under half of the studies noted a clear increase in violence against women and approximately 30% saw mixed results, indicating an increase in at least one measure.

Data released by the United Nations shows that calls to domestic violence helplines have increased fivefold in some countries since the coronavirus outbreak began.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Center for Global Development COVID-19 and violence against women and children—A second research round-up
UN Women Facts and figures—Ending violence against women
New England Journal of Medicine A pandemic within a pandemic—Intimate partner violence during COVID-19
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Gigafact
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.