INTRODUCTION
Domestic violence is a human right issue and also a barrier to development. Domestic violence against women is becoming a great threat in India day by day despite strict laws against domestic violence especially in rural areas due to lack of education, unawareness, backwardness, religious or social obligations, etc. The issue of domestic violence is prevailing worldwide women are being subjected to discrimination on the basis of gender which leads to a decline in the sex ratio of females over males.
Nowadays the world is suffering from covid19 which is a highly communicable disease the government has announced the lockdown to combat this problem government has taken all the preventive measures in every field but failed to protect women.
There is a rapid rise in domestic violence against women during lockdown due to various reasons like increasing financial stress, frustration and there are no proper remedies available to them during lockdown as the government officials are engaged in fighting against this disease.
According to ALL INDIA COUNCIL OF HUMAN RIGHTS, LIBERTIES, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE that there is a rapid increase in the number of domestic violence incidents. The condition is becoming worse day by day during this lockdown.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN RESPECT OF COVID-19
Due to this pandemic, the government has announced lockdown which results in ‘stay at home’ fall in economic growth, rise in cybercrime and it also results in a rapid rise in domestic violence. Not only in India but globally other countries have also reported an increase in the number of cases and India has ranked as the fourth worse country in gender inequality.
The National Council Of women has reported a rise in the number of cases reported through emails within a few days of lockdown. The numbers of cases reported are less than the actual cases as people will not have access to mobile phones with their abusers to call for help.
Getting shut-in with a violent person could lead to an increase in mental stress, physical abuse, humiliation, and also the risk of life sometimes it also leads to mental illness.
WHY THERE IS A RAPID INCREASE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
- Difficulty in access to resources: although the support is provided by the government and non-governmental organizations to the women against domestic violence due to lockdown they find it difficult to access resources. During lockdown due to restrictions on mobility women find it difficult to leave their home and reach safe places, friends place, or extended family members.
- Frustration: women’s for the first time who are facing domestic violence blaming domestic violence for their current situation. They are saying their husbands are getting frustrated due to financial crises, lack of social interaction and they are beating them for no reason.
- Lack of opportunities to the complaint: the opportunities to help women directly will remain to be limited due to lockdown. However, they are not able to report as they are always surrounded by their husbands. If women’s report then only legal action can be taken, but they are just so helpless that they are not able to report their problem.
- Early marriages: the financial burden is increased on families due to covid19, to reduce financial stress some of the parents decided to marry their daughters. Child marriage is illegal in India but as administrative authorities busy dealing with covid19 some people taking advantage of it.
- Unequal distribution of labor: women’s are also facing the problem of unequal distribution of labor across the nation women’s faced an increasing threat of physical violence during the country’s partial lockdown.
STEPS TAKEN BY DIFFERENT AUTHORITIES TO REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
- WEFT (Women Entrepreneurs For Transformation) Foundation, is a nonprofit organization that is working for women empowerment has launched a new campaign called ‘red dot’ by which citizens can recognize a domestic violence victim by seeing a red dot on her palm and inform NGOs or authorities.
- The National Commission for Women (NCW) launched a WhatsApp number on Friday to report cases of domestic violence, which have seen a rise during the coronavirus lockdown period. According to NCW this WhatsApp number –7217735372 – is an addition to the already existing emails and online complaint links. This number is an emergency number for victims.
- A petition filed by the All India Council of Human Rights, Liberties, and Social Justice (AICHLS), which gives details about the threats to the safety of women, especially during the lockdown period, when they are locked down with their offender. In response to the petition.
- Notices are issued by the Delhi High Court to the six Respondents to the petition. These Respondents include the Ministry of Women and Child Development; Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Government of NCT of Delhi; National Commission for Women; Delhi Commission for Women; the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India. The Respondents were also advised to have to conscious upon their own additional solutions to address the issues of domestic violence. The Respondents were also directed to file a fresh status report on the matter in the next hearing of the case.
- In the final judgment, the Delhi High Court said that the Court did not find a reason to further monitor the situation on the basis of the detailed reports and responses filed by the Respondents. However, the Court also administered the respondents to ensure proper execution and tutoring of staff who address the helpline numbers.
CONCLUSION
The world is suffering from this pandemic government is busy in fighting this disease administrative authorities are busy some people taking it as an advantage according to NCW there is a rapid increase in the number of cases of domestic violence women’s are being subjected to cruelty by their husbands the only potential solution to this problem is to create awareness the government is also taking all preventive measures like red dot campaigns etc.
Geetanjali sisodia says
Well done bro👌🏻😘