One of the phrases that we've heard time and again during the COVID-19 pandemic is that we're "safer at home" and not out where we can be exposed to the virus.
However, for all too many out there, it's not such a clear cut choice. Home, which is supposed to be a safe, secure place, just isn't, and BBC's Victoria Derbyshire wanted to bring some attention to that fact.
However, viewers tuning into one of her recent broadcasts noticed something a bit different about her - she had some writing on the back of her hand, which is the sort of thing that would usually get washed off or covered up before going to air.
Turns out, Derbyshire had left it there very much on purpose.
With people forced to stay in their homes during coronavirus lockdowns, domestic abuse victims are at greatly increased risk of harm and have little hope of escape.
Since Britain adopted isolation measure for the pandemic, Britain's national domestic abuse hotline has reported a 25% increase in calls and a 150% increase to its website traffic, CBS News reported.
"Two women a week were killed by a partner or ex before coronavirus. A fact that is shocking enough," Derbyshire told The Independent.
"Now, some people will be trapped with a violent perpetrator in self-isolation or partial lockdown and it’s even more vital to get the helpline number out there so people know there is someone right now available to take your call and help you if you are in a violent or threatening situation."
"I’d written the number on my hand to tweet a photo of it at 7am this morning and left it on my skin deliberately in case it could help any of the millions watching after 9am on BBC 1."
As Suzanne Jacob, chief executive of the domestic abuse charity Safelives, told CBS News, it's troubling to see a decline in calls.
"There's a very quickly rising need," Jacob said, "but in some places, actually we've seen a decrease in that, and that is just as worrying to us, because it probably means that there's suppression of somebody who's trying to access help but can't find the means."
Paris saw a 36% spike in domestic violence following the coronavirus lockdown, so French authorities came up with a system where domestic abuse victims can signal a need for help by providing a code word to pharmacists, ABC News reported.
The pharmacy will contact police, who will then be able to intervene. Spain also uses a similar system.
h/t: The Independent, CBS News, ABC News
