Increasing risks of domestic violence in India during COVID-19 pandemic

Domestic violence against women is a violation of human rights and a serious public health concern worldwide (WHO, 2005). Women and girls are subject to different forms of violence even before their birth and until their death. Domestic violence has various dimensions and is often manifested in a complex forms of physical aggression, sexual coercion, emotional and psychological abuse, and controlling behaviours (Garcia-Moreno et al., 2006). Women of all ages, irrespective of socio-cultural and religious identities, geographic boundaries, and economic status are vulnerable to this inhuman act. As per estimates of World Health Organization, one in every third woman (35%) worldwide experiences physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime and in most cases, the perpetrator is none other than their intimate partner, as about 30% women report experiences of violence committed by the partner (WHO, 2005).

The incidence of violence against women remains unacceptably high in Indian society. The recent National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) survey reveals that 31% ever-married women in this country experienced physical, sexual abuse, or emotional violence in 2015–16. Around one-fourth (24.5%) women are exposed to various violence-related injuries including cut, bruises, burns, deep wounds or broken bones, etc. Furthermore, nearly half (49%) of women reported that their behaviour is controlled by their partners (IIPS & ICF, 2017). As per National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), a total of 89,097 cases were registered related to crimes against women across the country in 2018 with a 3.6% increase from the previous year. Domestic violence tops in the category of different crimes against women (Outlook, 2020).

Violence against women in India is deeply rooted in the patriarchal family structure and rigid socio-cultural norms of society. In a patriarchal society, men are positioned in a higher order of societal and family structure, and they control over women in several ways. In fact, violence is an extreme form of discrimination linked to a continuum of beliefs that men think gives them the right to control women's behaviours (Heise, 1993; Jewkes et al., 2002).

When several countries are under strict lockdown to restrain the spread of infectious COVID-19 virus, there has been a surge in cases of domestic violence all over the world. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University (USA) and Victoria University (Australia) estimated that 15 million additional cases of gender-based violence are likely to occur in every three months of lockdown. India is not an exception. Since the lockdown was imposed from March 25, the number of domestic violence cases has been increasing at an alarming pace across the country.

Home, which is considered as the safest place, appears not safe for all. The National Commission for Women (NCW) received 587 complaints from women in just 24 days of lockdown in the country between March 23 and April 16. Out of these, 239 cases are related to domestic violence with a drastic rise from the previous month's 123 cases (February 27 to March 22) (The Economic Times, 2020). However, the actual number of cases is expected to be much more than the reported cases. During lockdown, women cannot go out for registering complaints due to restriction of movement, and some women cannot even communicate with their parents and friends regarding it as everyone is staying at home. The options, therefore, for lodging complaints are limited now under COVID lockdown.

The pandemic has increased the risk of violence against women. This crisis has locked the perpetrators and the victim together. Amid lockdown, with everyone at home and unavailability of the domestic maid, the load of domestic work which is traditionally demarcated as ‘women's work’ has increased and so do the chances of violence, if they fail to fulfill these works.

Another reason for the steep rise of domestic violence could be joblessness and economic distress in the family due to lockdown. Similar experiences were observed in United States during the Great Depression of the 1930s and the Great Recession between 2007 and 2009. The study of “Intimate Partner Violence in the Great Recession” found that men feel increasingly anxious about losing jobs and financial security, which tend to increase controlling behaviour and sometimes abuse their partners. It's a psychological dynamic that “loss of control in one domain, like the economy, leads men to assert greater control in another domain, in this case their intimate relationships” which stems from the patriarchal mindset (Schneider et al., 2016). However, it is more intensified in COVID-19 crisis as the lockdown restricts the options of escape routes for women. Earlier, they could go to the parent's home or friend's place to take shelter when violence escalates.

Despite legal safeguard under Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005), domestic violence is rampant in Indian society, especially in this current emergency. Jammu and Kashmir High Court took Suo Motu cognizance of an increasing number of domestic violence cases and directed the government to make redress mechanism of violence as a key part of the national response plans for COVID-19. Similarly, Delhi High Court, hearing a PIL by an NGO, directed the State and Central Governments, the national and state commissions of women to take protective measures for women (Hindustan Times, 2020). During this lockdown, the situation is worst for women who are facing domestic violence as only few redressal systems are functional now. Keeping this in mind, the National Commission for Women launched a WhatsApp number to receive complaints from women in this lockdown (The Economic Times, 2020). Women should be informed regarding various modes of complaint registration to prevent domestic violence in a similar way, social distancing and use of masks are promoted to fight against COVID-19. Further, awareness should be spread about the risks of domestic violence at the community level.

It has to be remembered that domestic violence is not only a violation of human rights but also it has far-reaching consequences on the psychological and physical health of women as well as on their children. All women deserve dignity, respect and freedom; only then, society will progress.

Funding

The authors did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency for this research.

Author contributions

All authors contributed equally to conceiving, writing, revising and proof reading this manuscript.

Declaration of competing interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.