This webinar on COVID-19, social determinants and violence will explore how violence is a significant contributor to human suffering and how the societal responses to COVID-19 such as stay-at-home measures, workplace and school closures, and restrictions on sales of alcohol highlight the interrelationships between social determinants and violence. These complex inter-relationships will be explored, and their implications unpacked to suggest likely future trends in the prevalence of violence and its prevention.
Webinar information
Date: Wednesday, 2 December 2020
Time: 16:00 to 17:00 CET
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Proceedings will begin punctually at 16:00 CET and the Zoom link will be open as of 15:45 CET to enable all participants to connect on time.
The webinar is hosted by Dr Naoko Yamamoto, WHO Assistant Director-General for Healthier Populations and moderated by Dr Etienne Krug, Director, WHO Social Determinants of Health Department. Speakers include Mark Bellis (Bangor University); Faith Mwangi-Powell (Girls Not Brides); and Manuel Eisner (Cambridge University).
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our world and exacerbated inequalities in many countries and communities. One of the consequences of COVID-19 and the societal responses to the virus has been an increase in some types of violence. This includes child maltreatment, youth violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and elder abuse. In addition to the immediate harms, these acts of violence will have pernicious, lifelong health effects on those affected and risk undermining their potential and ultimately impede social and economic development.
It is known that far from being randomly distributed, all forms of violence are strongly patterned by social determinants such as economic, social and gender inequalities; lack of occupational and educational opportunities; ease of access to alcohol, drugs and firearms; family dysfunction; and norms and values that shape the acceptability of violence. In turn, high levels of violence can themselves amplify these social determinants in a vicious circle.
Access the recording (Access passcode: @E+B^0Bk)