Gender, domestic violence rose by 30 per cent across several countries

Irungu Houghton.

It’s been two years since Amnesty International published its International report on the state of Human Rights. While hated by authoritarian leaders, the report is a point of reference for all who seek more just and compassionate societies globally. What lessons can we draw for a world in its second year of the corona pandemic? 

Four global trends stand out from last year. In over half of the countries studied, millions of people most affected by the pandemic were the least protected. Refugees found themselves either trapped in underfunded and squalid camps or locked out by closed borders during the pandemic. 10,000 remain stranded on the border of Democratic Republic of Congo. Gender based and domestic violence also spiked by 30 per cent across several countries.