Intimate terrorism: Intimate partner violence, femicide and confinement

Abstract

The intimate partner violence generates high levels of physical, emotional and economic damage. Especially in the case of women, this violence is associated with various health problems, economic difficulties, incarceration and substance use. Although the data does not show the real incidence of this phenomenon, it is clear that a high proportion of the victims are afraid to report the attacks or seek medical care, either because of reprisals from their partners or because of re-victimization by the authorities. This situation seems to worsen during the period of confinement associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, as a consequence of the confinement and the restriction of mobility in public spaces. This article explores some dimensions of intimate partner violence that allow it to be conceived as comparable to a terrorist strategy that generates numerous risks and affects the lives of millions of women in the world, but mainly in the Latin American region.