Increased Sexual Violence during Dutch Lockdown and Curfew 

Roos Willemijn Craanen 

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher 

Global Human Rights Defence 

A recent report published Rutgers and SOA Aid the Netherlands, claims that women and men experienced more forms of sexual assault and violence during the implemented lockdown and curfew due to the global corona pandemic. This is striking, as singles are presumed to have had less sex due to the covid restrictions. Both institutions estimate that around 8% of the women, and 3% of the men in the Netherlands experienced forms of sexual violence. Rutgers and SOA Aid assume that the increase in sexual violence is the result of the curfew. Namely, it forced people to stay the night, whereas normally they would have had the chance to go home. The influence of the curfew on sexual violence has not just been experienced in the Netherlands, but across the world. After the curfew was abolished, these numbers decreased to 5% for women and 1% for men, respectively.

Further reading and source: 

NOS Nieuws. (1 November 2021). Meer Seksueel Geweld Tegen Jongeren Tijdens Avondklok. Nos Nieuws. https://nos.nl/artikel/2403935-meer-seksueel-geweld-tegen-jongeren-tijdens-avondklok.