The Impact of COVID-19 Residential Quarantines on Patterns of Violence Against Women in Colombia

• In Event: COVID-19, Violence, and Victimization

Abstract

Previous studies have presented mixed results regarding the effects of the pandemic on violence against women (VAW). In the case of Latin America, literature suggests that while there were fluctuations in cases of domestic violence affected by lockdowns, murders and sexual violence of women appeared to remain relatively stable during Covid-19. However, no study has analyzed the spatial and frequency alterations at the municipal level of this violence in this region. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this study utilizes quantitative and Geographical Information System (GIS) analyses, drawing on official crime records and comprehensive socioeconomic data to examine the impact of COVID-19 quarantine policies on trends of VAW in Colombia between 2018 and 2023. The study provides a detailed municipal-level analysis focusing on the spatial dynamics of these variables across Colombia and a term time-series analyses to measure the impacts of the residential quarantines in VAW. The findings offer valuable insights for devising targeted interventions and refining gender-based violence prevention strategies, emphasizing the need for localized, data-driven responses to effectively address VAW in Colombia.

Authors

• Giselle Evelyn Kleiban, Florida International University

• Eduardo Mendoza Montoya, Florida International University

• Stephen F. Pires, Florida International University