“There is a danger outside- it’s the COVID- 19 pandemic- but when you have a danger
inside, you have someone who humiliates you, who strikes you, sometimes rapes you, assaults
you, threatens you with death, obviously you have the right to go out.”
- Marlene Schiappa, French Equality Minister
The Lockdown imposed in most of the countries in the world has proved to be a downside for the women who have been exposed relentlessly to their abusers. On one hand, the world is facing its battle against pandemic COVID-19, whereas, on the other hand, the issue of women’s rights*1 is facing a new battle. Families which are basic institutions of any country are not at peace. This is because of the less bonding and lack of understanding among the family members. The lockdown has resulted in job losses, restrictions on freedom, and social distancing, but has raised some social and ethical concerns. The data sourced from various countries suggest that domestic violence against women is crossing its pinnacle of all times.
Marianne Hester, a Bristol University Sociologist says that the “domestic violence goes up whenever the families spend more time together, such as during Christmas and summer vacations.”
In our country, the number of complaints*2 received by the National Commission for women has spiked from 116 in the 1st week of march to 257 in the last week of March. The cases of domestic violence have surged up from 30 to 69 within the same period. The complaints relating to the ‘Right to live with Dignity’ coming under the purview of Article 21*3 have doubled, escalating from 35 to 77. The numbers are reflecting the grim problem of not just one country, but the entire world. In Tunisia, the calls to a hotline for helping the women facing such violence have increased fivefold. France has witnessed a rise of 33% in such complaints. Australia reported a 75% increase in surfing internet related to the support for victims of violence.
All the countries are taking an active approach to end this violence. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized*4 this rapid increase and said that “violence is not confined to the battlefield. For many women and girls, the threat looms largest where they should be safest- in their own homes."*5 France has carved out a unique way to help victims. The French government has encouraged the victims to ask for help at pharmacies, which in turn would inform the police. Moreover, the victims are placed*6 in hotel rooms and the government is providing them with the facility of counseling centers. In Australia, the govt. has set up a package of $150 million in order to support the victims of sexual violence.
In India, this issue has been not been addressed properly.*7 Various non-governmental organizations and women-centric helplines are taking initiative, but no master plan has been formulated by the government. The government should immediately make facilities for providing online counseling and psychological support and lift the restrictions for them to approach the authorities. The NGOs working in this field should be given requisite authority and their work should be put within the hemisphere of ‘essential services’ until the situations are normal. The government can also launch a mobile application in order to provide accessibility to the women in search of nearby available NGOs and helplines. Mental health organizations should also give suggestions to families to reduce stress and anxiety.
Through collaborative efforts, the victim can have quick access to remedy. To conclude, I would say that we should not let this virus take away the constitutional rights of women across the world.
This Article is written by Aaditya Mootha. He is currently pursuing his B.A.LL.B (Hons.) at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University and he is in the first year.
REFERENCES:
1. Amanda Taub, ‘A New Covid Domestic abuse Rises Worldwide’, THE NEW YORK TIMES, April 6,2020 available at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/world/coronavirus-domestic violence.html (Last visited on 16- 04-2020)
2. Jagriti Chandra, ‘National commission for Women records a rise in complaints since the start of lockdown’, THE
HINDU, April 3, 2020, available at https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/national-commission-for-women-records-a-rise-in-complaints-since-the-start-of lockdown/article31241492.ece (Last visited on 16-04-2020)
3. Article 21, Constitution of India, 1949
4. Alexandra Villarreal, ‘Coronavirus pandemic exacerbates inequalities for women, UN warns’, THE GUARDIAN, April 11, 2020, available at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/11/un-coronavirus- pandemic-gender-inequalities-women (Last visited on 16-04-2020)
5. Ibid
6. Melissa Godin, ‘French Government to House Domestic Abuse Victims in Hotels as Cases Rise during Coronavirus Lockdown’, TIME, March 31, 2020 available at https://time.com/5812990/france-domestic- violence-hotel-coronavirus/ (Last visited on 16-04-2020)
7. Chandra, supra note 2
7. Chandra, supra note 2
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