Lockdown Increases Domestic Violence

As quarantines take effect around the world, “intimate terrorism” a term many experts prefer for domestic violence — is flourishing. Everyone is stuck in the home as worldwide lockdowns are imposed to prevent coronavirus infections. And in this situation, the rate of violence against women has increased at an alarming rate. As a result of being stuck in the house for a long time, women are being tortured by their husbands and relatives. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern in this regard.

The latest report of the UN Secretary-General on Covid-19 has a chilling statement. Because of the Pandemic, he says, "what was achieved in gender equality has gone back almost a decade." The numbers paint a grim picture: by 2030, female genital mutilation is expected to increase by 2 million worldwide, the number of child marriages will increase to 13 million, and 15 million women and girls will be victims of gender-based violence every three months of lockdown. At the same time, another 47 million women will face extreme poverty.

In a recent survey by the Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), a non-governmental organization highlighted the image of violence against women. They say 4,249 women and 456 children were victims of domestic violence in April in 26 districts of Bangladesh alongside 33 child marriages.

The survey was conducted on mobile phones with 17,203 women and children from 602 villages and 4 city corporations in 58 upazilas of 27 districts through 24 partner organizations.

According to the survey, 848 women were physically abused by their husbands, 2,008 were mentally abused, 85 were sexually abused and 1,308 were financially abused. In addition, four women were raped, one was killed and 20 were sexually harassed.

Out of 4,249 respondents, 424 children have been victims of domestic violence. There were 33 child marriages and 42 incidents of other violence. Four children have been raped, 16 have been attempted, two have been abducted, 10 have been sexually harassed and 10 have been raped while seeking relief.

One thousand 72 women and 424 children who took part in the survey have never been tortured before. Ninety-two percent of children have been abused by their parents and relatives while women are mostly in the hands of their husbands

Arpita Das, the program coordinator for the Foundation for the People, said, "We have found 1,072 women who have never been abused before. This proves that torture is on the rise in the lockdown. And the husbands are mainly involved in this torture. Because they have no work to do. Most of them have no income. There is no food and they can't go out, they can't hang out, they are again blaming women for all this. Behind this mentality of blaming women is the conventional mentality of torture In-laws and other family members also have a role to play. "

"Women have also been tortured for talking to us on the phone and complaining," she said.

"First of all, poverty has been increased in coronavirus pandemic, she said, referring to the causes of child marriage in the lockdown. So parents may be looking for a way out of poverty by getting their children wedded. At the same time, anti-child marriage propaganda and activism have dwindled, and some have taken it as an opportunity. "

Shaheen Anam, executive director of the Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) said, violence against women has increased by 20 percent in the world during this coronavirus and Bangladesh is not out of it. And there is more violence against women even in normal conditions. At the time of Covid-19, men are now at home. All the members of the family are staying at home As a result, violence against women has increased However, we have not yet done any comparative study. We could not work in all the districts. As a result, it was not possible to bring up the whole picture right now. "

"At this time, the chances of women filing a complaint have decreased," he said.

He emphasized that at this time, there is a need for legal action as well as awareness programs to prevent violence against women and children.