.png)
This research was initiated and founded by Michal Sela Forum and Bat Melech and in collaboration with the UJA Federation of New-York.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women, the serious injury and even murder perpetrated by her partner, is a widespread, global phenomenon. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem to the point where the UN declared it a "shadow pandemic" of the coronavirus crisis (UN Women, 2020).1 Israel, like other countries, has seen a sharp increase in reported cases of domestic violence during this period (Gil-Ad, 2020). There is therefore a real and immediate need to step up the struggle against it. Recent technological developments can and should be enlisted in this struggle. To this end, we sought to identify and map innovative technologies that have been developed around the world to address IPV, with some actively aiming to prevent the murder of women. The mapping focused on preventive approaches, not on assistance and support services for victims of domestic violence; nor did we survey methods, websites, and online applications (apps) related to the field of education for preventing violence against women, such as those concerning gender equality. Furthermore, the mapping focused only on methods that are suitable for situations of IPV against women and not on other kinds of domestic violence, such as violence against children. The mapping work was challenging. The websites and organizations that deal with violence against women in general, and IPV in particular, contain limited information about technologies related to the effort to protect victims, prevent violence or treat violent partners. In the present paper, we review several studies that analyze the use of technological means for preventing violence, especially against women. We then describe the different kinds of apps and technologies currently available in this domain and include examples. Most of the apps on the market pertain to violence against women that is not necessarily intimate partner violence; some are relevant to violence that is not necessarily directed against women. We will highlight characteristics of apps that make them suitable for coping with the phenomenon of IPV. Then, in the Analysis and Conclusions section, we offer recommendations for developing means and actions that will help reduce this grave phenomenon.
Download the research results NOW
Commentaires