The other pandemic of domestic violence

My column in Mathrubhumi (translated in Malayalam)

Even as COVID-19 spreads worldwide with no signs of stopping just yet, there is another pandemic that is riding on its back-- that of domestic violence.

The nation-wide lockdown here in India and in many parts of the world has led to a spurt in incidents of domestic violence, virtually doubling in many places. Even this does not tell the whole story because we know the violence and abuse women experience in their own homes, in spaces that are supposed to be 'safe', are rarely reported.  The official figures represent a very small percentage of the total number. 

Also, we would do well to remember, again, that violence within the home, and by persons known to the survivor constitutes the majority of recorded incidents of violence against women, much more than sexual assault and rape.

So imagine then what a woman who is subject to such abuse, and who even in normal times is afraid to report it because she fears she will be thrown out of her home by her abuser, must be feeling being locked in with that man 24/7 for days on end?

If in normal times these men abuse their wives, think of how much more violent they must be during this time when they have no work, little money and are forced to sit indoors? The easiest targets for their frustration are their wives, the women who must continue to take care of the house, the children, the elders, and even their violent husbands.

In India, according to the National Commission for Women (NCW), the help calls from women abused in their homes has doubled -- from 116 between March 2-8 to 257 between March 23-April 1, after the national lockdown.

India is not unique in this.  Just as the virus has hit most countries, rich and poor, so has the pandemic of domestic violence.  Reports from Britain, France, the United States and many other countries show a sharp increase in such violence against women. 

So what can be done?  In many countries, including India, women are not just afraid to report because they will end up homeless, but also have no faith in the justice system even if they do report. As a result, the majority of women stay silent and just accept such brutal treatment as their fate.

But they need not if governments recognised the seriousness of this problem and stepped in to help.

In France, for instance, where women have campaigned long and hard for measures to deal with domestic violence, the government has offered to pay for hotel rooms for women who want to escape the violence. They have devised a novel way to encourage women to report. As most women can legitimately step out during a lockdown to go to buy groceries or go to a chemist, facilities are now available in these shops where women can report violence.

In India, the one state that seems to have moved firmly on this is Kerala. It is heartening that the Chief Minister has taken a personal interest and issued posters encouraging women to report through the 181 helpline.

However, as in France, there also need to be shelters where women can be safe, from their abusers, and from the virus. A helpline is not enough. They also need counseling and assistance to file cases if needed. This is not asking for too much at this time.  The final toll of this global pandemic will be much greater if we fail to recognise the cost of this parallel pandemic on the lives of millions of women.