Fake beauty site for victims of domestic violence to safely “shop” while receiving covert help.

A surge in Europe was reported during lockdown.

Featuring photos of lavender soap and cleansing sage face masks, the shop looks real. But instead of salespeople, on the other side of the screen is a volunteer team of psychologists from the Centre for Women's Rights.

🇵🇱 In Poland, the majority of those who reach out are female and under 30 years old.

🇫🇷 France started telling victims to head to drugstores and say the codeword "mask 19" to the pharmacist if they can't talk openly in the store.

🇪🇸 🇩🇪 🇮🇹 🇦🇷 🇳🇴 Codeword projects are also operating in Spain, Germany, Italy, Argentina and Norway, with the aim of encouraging victims to raise an alarm without tipping off their abuser.

Wojtek RADWANSKI AFP