As Covid-19 continues its relentless march throughout the world, so too is recognition of what is now becoming known as the Shadow Pandemic. Emerging research gathered from the front lines by the United Nations, shows that since the outbreak of Covid-19, all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has rapidly increased. On this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, the UN is calling for a global collective effort, as essential services such as domestic violence shelters and helplines around the world reach capacity. In some countries, calls to helplines have increased five-fold. Griffith University researcher and phd candidate Elise Imray Papineau is investigating the importance of grassroots activism in this mix. Her research focuses on the cross-cultural experiences of activist women in Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. I’m meeting Elise at a renowned gathering place for activists in Brisbane’s West End called The Burrow, where she’s coordinated an art exhibition highlighting the subversive work of protest groups such as Needle N Bitch from Indonesia, and how art can powerfully challenge the status quo.