No more buying a can of beer or a bottle of wine or even strong alcohol. The Greenlandic government announced on Saturday evening a ban on the sale of alcohol in its capital Nuuk and its region during the confinement linked to the epidemic of the new coronavirus. The authorities' aim is to limit domestic violence, which has been on the rise since the start of these movement restrictions.
“In such a special situation, we must take many precautions to avoid infection. But the heart of my decision is to protect children, they must have a safe home, "said Greenlandic head of government Kim Kielsen in a statement.
Children who feel "unsafe at home"
On the huge Arctic island, an autonomous territory in Denmark, almost one in three people were victims of sexual abuse during their childhood, a scourge mainly linked to the consumption of alcohol and drugs and the ignorance of human rights. 'child. "Unfortunately, in Nuuk, we have experienced more domestic violence in recent weeks," Greenlandic Health Minister Martha Abelsen told local press. For some children, excessive drinking by parents means that they are not safe at home. "
The ban on the sale of alcohol came into force on March 28 and must last until April 15. Ten cases of Covid-19 have been officially reported in Greenland and two people are recovered. The government has banned gatherings of 10 people outside and halted air traffic to contain the epidemic. The schools have been closed since Monday March 23.
With the ban on the sale of alcohol, the country's authorities also plan to reduce contamination because "people are less aware of the danger of contamination when they consume alcoholic beverages," the statement said.
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The government, sovereign in economic and social policy, would like to eradicate sexual abuse of minors by 2022.