Safety planning for violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic

Under the current COVID-19 pandemic, “isolation measures” could put women at further risk of violence. Safety planning is a way to think about how to stay safe in your home, community and in workplace no matter your migration status. A safety plan can help you anticipate and prepare for dangers if you are in an abusive situation or fear violence or harassment. A safety plan DOES NOT replace urgently calling the police or other authorities for help but will help you think in advance of what you might need. Always call the police for urgent help when needed. To prepare for your safety, it is good to think about possible options you can take if you are in danger. If you already had a strategy which worked before the COVID-19 pandemic, check if that is still valid to keep you safe.

This brief was produced by the programme “Safe and Fair: Realizing women migrant workers’ rights and opportunities in the ASEAN region”, part of the Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls, a global, multi-year initiative between the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN). Safe and Fair is implemented through a partnership between the ILO and UN Women (in collaboration with UNODC) with the overriding objective of ensuring that labour migration is safe and fair for all women in the ASEAN region. Visit https://spotlightinitiative.org for more information.

To get support, call the following numbers:

Specialized for women migrant workers in Singapore