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Camilla has an important message for those suffering domestic abuse while isolating
The Duchess of Cornwall is using her platform to support people during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, Camilla has reached out to anyone who might be affected by domestic abuse while self-isolating.
Camilla wrote on the Clarence House Instagram account, 'This is a hard time for everyone, as we are all asked to stay at home to stay safe. But for some of you it is even harder, because home is not a safe place.'
She continued, 'I can only imagine that being asked to stay there could feel very isolating and frightening for you and your family. It may mean spending more time with the person who is harming you.'
A post shared by Clarence House (@clarencehouse) on Mar 27, 2020 at 9:00am PDT
The duchess explained, 'If this is your situation, or you are worried about someone else, I want you to know that you are not alone. Even if you cannot leave your home, you can call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline or contact one of the domestic abuse charities. Please stay safe and get help.'
Underneath the duchess' message, the Clarence House account shared several resources for anyone impacted by domestic abuse, especially during a time when it's difficult to leave the house.
The caption said, 'Charity @safelives_ have an online resource that provides information about staying safe during COVID-19 — you can read it by following the link in our bio.' She also encouraged those affected to contact Refuge and Women's Aid.
The British home secretary, Priti Patel, has echoed Camilla's message to domestic abuse survivors overnight, telling them they are not alone and can still seek shelter at refuges despite the coronavirus social distancing rules.
Writing in the Mail On Sunday, she said: 'Whilst our advice is to stay at home, anyone who is at risk of, or experiencing, domestic abuse, is still able to leave and seek refuge. Refuges remain open, and the police will provide support to all individuals who are being abused - whether physically, emotionally, or otherwise.'
Police say the new self-isolation rules can make those being abused more vulnerable. According to the Office for National Statistics, 1.6 million women and 786,000 men experienced domestic violence in the year ending March 2019.
Camila has been working tirelessly to end domestic abuse for 10 years. She recently teamed up with Refuge and SafeLives to launch a digital campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence and coercive control.
If you want to help a domestic abuse survivor right now, you can donate to Women's Aid's helpline or buy a Refuge emergency parcel to help support them in their first few weeks at a refuge.
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