Codes against domestic violence are a balancing act: In order for the systems to work, word of them has to get around among the women affected – but if they become too well known, the perpetrators could also find out about it. In South Africa, Peters has already developed new codes with which she can communicate covertly.
The digital initiatives can be important ways to reach victims of domestic violence at home, even beyond the pandemic. However, depending on the country, it is sometimes younger women who can be reached by the online offers. Since not all women have access to the Internet, experts on domestic violence are calling for the expansion of low-threshold offline offers such as »Mask 19«. Pharmacists are now providing emergency aid not only in France, but also in parts of Spain, Argentina, Colombia and Germany when women say the code word.
The German branch of the women's rights organization Zonta International is committed to spreading the offer of help even more nationwide in this country. "The brief, memorable code word mask 19 is about enabling those affected to get help quickly without having to explain a traumatizing situation," says Karin Lange, spokeswoman for the Union of German Zonta Clubs. According to the spokeswoman, around 150 pharmacies and around 120 medical practices in several German federal states have already been convinced to participate. Compared to Spain, however, coverage in Germany is still low: there, women in need can already go to around 16,000 pharmacies and order »Mask 19«.
