Incidence of domestic violence, particularly spousal abuse, is skyrocketing around the world due to COVID-19 as lockdowns increase, job loss is rampant, and couples work from home. According to the World Health Organization, one out of three women in the world experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime. The situation is even graver in times of crisis. Extended periods of quarantine breed anxiety and depression. When people feel powerless in one area of their lives, they often seek to establish more power over other areas. This is particularly alarming in situations of domestic violence because domestic abuse is, essentially, an effort by one partner to dominate and establish psychological, emotional, physical and sexual control over the other partner.
Women, already vulnerable in a patriarchal society such as ours in Pakistan, now confront the additional burden of physical entrapment and possible harm. Lockdowns force victims to remain confined in close proximity with their abusers, unable to call for help without being overheard and, with little or no option of escape to friends or family. It is in such situations that all avenues of communication and support must be kept open for women victims of violence.
Strong policy initiatives are essential to address the increased risk of violence to women and children in quarantine.In Pakistan, we must act fast and in national synergy. Greater awareness of support systems available to women must be disseminated at all levels. There are Women ‘s rights activists like Mukhtaran Mai and Farzana Bari, who are working tirelessly by educating women in rural areas, empowering them economically and raising their representation in the legislature. Additionally, telemedicine organisations have leveraged technology to mobilise the female community health worker in rural areas in Pakistan to provide access to health care. Being As a tele-health practitioner currently I am currently providing mental health support to vulnerable groups in rural areas during the pandemic and hoping to continue to do so in the future. The federal and provincial governments must work in tandem, with empathy and with technology, to support Pakistani women in these difficult times. Community support systems, neighbours and civil society play a strong role in identifying local issues. They must be alerted and sensitized to the growing problem of gender-based violence.
Despite the impending economic recession, it is important that governments make special budgetary and institutional provisions for when quarantines are lifted and when women are finally able to go out and seek legal, medical or psychological redress.
Women are the backbone of our society. It is time they be acknowledged as such. Interventions are essential to address widespread and growing abuse and gender subordination. It is time to let our women know that they are not alone with their challenges but that the government and institutions are solidly behind them.
References:
Heise L., Ellsberg M., and Gottemoeller M., “Ending Violence against women”, Population Reproduction 27, no. 4, (1999): 1–2.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, “State of Human Rights in 2012”, (Lahore: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, March 2013), 173.
Krug EG et al. eds. World report on vio lence and health. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2002.
Author’s Note:
Dr. Samreen Rizwan is a Family Physician from Pakistan. She has completed her training in Family Medicine with special interest in mental health. She has been advocating for the rights of women in Pakistan for many years. Currently, she is practising as a tele-health physician in Pakistan and this blog comes from her tele consultations with women in Pakistan.