{"id":26358,"date":"2021-03-08T17:06:45","date_gmt":"2021-03-08T15:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.opendoors.org.za\/covid-19-fuels-hidden-pandemic-of-abuse-and-exploitation-against-women\/"},"modified":"2021-03-08T17:12:11","modified_gmt":"2021-03-08T15:12:11","slug":"covid-19-fuels-hidden-pandemic-of-abuse-and-exploitation-against-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.opendoors.org.za\/afr\/covid-19-fuels-hidden-pandemic-of-abuse-and-exploitation-against-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Covid-19 fuels \u201chidden pandemic\u201d of abuse and exploitation against women (Slegs in Engels beskikbaar)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Covid-19\u00a0is\u00a0fuelling\u00a0a\u00a0growing, hidden\u00a0\u201cshadow pandemic\u201d of gender-based violence,\u00a0abduction\u00a0and trafficking, directed\u00a0towards\u00a0Christian\u00a0women\u00a0and girls around the world.\u00a0This is one of the findings of a new report\u00a0commissioned by\u00a0the ministry organisation Open Doors International, which supports and strengthens persecuted Christians all over the world.<\/p>\n

The report, entitled \u201cSame faith, different persecution: WWR 2021 gender-specific religious persecution (GSRP)\u201d, was published ahead of International Women\u2019s Day,\u00a0which is celebrated worldwide on Monday 8 March.<\/p>\n

Open Doors Southern Africa also hosted an online women\u2019s prayer event on Sunday evening, 7 March, to celebrate International Women\u2019s Day. During this event, testimonies were shared from women living for Christ in some of the most dangerous places on earth. The well-known singer and channel director of TBN Africa, Loyiso Bala, who is Open Doors\u2019 ambassador, was the special guest at the women\u2019s prayer event.<\/p>\n

The spotlight is currently on the plight of women and girls \u2013 especially on the African continent \u2013 with the shocking news that about 300 girls were kidnapped on Friday 26 February 2021 from a school in northern Nigeria. This happened just nine days after the kidnapping of 42 people from another school in the same region.<\/p>\n

Vulnerability of Christian women and girls<\/strong><\/p>\n

The report states that the Covid-19 pandemic has made Christian women and girls even more vulnerable\u00a0than before. During lockdown, they face persecution and opposition from within their own families and communities \u2013 who are hostile to their faith.<\/p>\n

On top of this, states and militants have exploited the\u00a0current\u00a0situation with\u00a0Covid-19,\u00a0\u201cweaponizing women\u2019s bodies to\u00a0inflict harm on their minority Christian communities\u00a0and limit growth of the Church\u201d.<\/p>\n

The report\u00a0looks at the nature and extent of\u00a0gender-specific\u00a0religious persecution (GSRP) towards both women and men\u00a0over twelve months, covering the period from October 2019 to September 2020.\u00a0It focuses largely on the 50 countries highlighted in\u00a0Open Doors\u2019\u00a0annual\u00a0World Watch List,\u00a0where Christians face the worst persecution and oppression.<\/p>\n

Key findings of the report<\/strong><\/p>\n

Among\u00a0the\u00a0key findings\u00a0for women are:<\/p>\n