UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged governments around the world to consider protecting women as part of their response to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, Guterres said that for many women and girls, the threat looms largest where they should be safest.

He further added that over the past weeks as economic and social pressures and fear have grown, we have seen a horrifying global surge in domestic violence. He urged all governments to make the prevention and redress of violence against women a key part of their national response plans for COVID-19.