Curbs back, time to renew focus on domestic abuse

It was a very apt and concerning picture and some women’s organisations in the country, had started special helplines to address this problem specifically. In India this was welcome and an admission of the scale of domestic violence.

In the first lockdown last year in March, we saw a spate of reports in India and globally too, about domestic violence. Rightly, the spotlight shone on the fact that the victim and the abuser would be trapped in one home during lockdown. The victim had little chance in escaping the domestic abuse or finding some relief or outlet even for a few hours, as all outdoors avenues, including the possibility of travelling to somebody’s home, were shut.

It was a very apt and concerning picture and some women’s organisations in the country, had started special helplines to address this problem specifically. In India this was welcome and an admission of the scale of domestic violence. 

This has remained a taboo topic, with families trying to brush it under the carpet, telling the woman who is usually the target though there may be a few exceptions, that certainly can happen, to remain stoically silent. So, the very fact that domestic violence came out in the open, was discussed, addressed and there was an attempt at a solution was path-breaking.

Now, we want to see this being addressed as restrictions are tightened once again, and the victim and abuser may have to share the same space. Were the old cases resolved? Do the victim have more avenues to complain? Did the abuse decrease, if cases were addressed in the first lockdown? We also need robust intervention and help avenues this time around, too. We have to strengthen our response system to this problem and if the first lockdown brought out this in the open, the second must also tackle it with greater vigour and vigilance. More recourse to counselling, police action when needed and protective shelter homes are just some measures that have to be in place to bring in long term solutions to a festering issue.

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