Dr. Matiur Rahman and Shishir Reza :
Domestic violence (Violence against women or girl in the home or family environment) is a foremost social problem in Bangladesh. Domestic violence is the domain of the umbrella term- ‘Gender Based Violence’ perpetuated on women only. Domestic violence incidences are very much common occurring in society frequently. Especially during the Covid-19 pandemic time the number of occurrences increased dramatically worldwide. Women of all social and economic strata are being abused by husbands, in-laws, and other family members.
Available data suggest that the number of cases of domestic violence is increasingly being reported in the newspapers, though a major portion remains unreported. According to a report of the World Health Organization (WHO), Bangladesh has become one of the top ranking countries in violence against women by intimate partner. Around 50 percent of women within the age range of 15 to 49 of the country have experienced physical or sexual violence by their partners during their lifetime.
A number of studies and reports revealed that the Covid-19 has made the world apparent by its devastating character in enormous spheres. During this pandemic, domestic violence, mental disorders, anxiety, depressive disorders and suicide have increased worldwide. The WHO reported that levels of domestic violence increase globally as COVID-19 pandemic escalates. WHO also mentioned that violence against women tends to increase in any emergency including epidemics. Continuing stress, disruption of social and protective networks, increased economic hardship and decreased access to services can exacerbate the risk of women suffering from violence.
A survey conducted in 2020 in Bangladesh revealed that 4,249 women, and 456 children were found to have been subjected to domestic violence in April 2020. Of these victims, 1,672 women and 424 children were facing violence for the first time in their lives. The women, who faced first time domestic violence blamed the lockdown for their situation. Furthermore, the statistics cannot show the real violence scenario against women and children taking place across during pandemic.
The scarcity of social activities and financial pressures are increasing crevices within families. Men are frustrated about losing their jobs because of the Covid-19. Some may express their frustration by humiliating their wives. The forms of violence occurred against women were physical abuse, mental abuse and sexual abuse. Financial constraints also intensified domestic violence by husbands against their wives and children.
In Bangladesh, there is growing evidence that domestic violence acts as an opportunistic infection that thrives in the pandemic’s situations. Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdown can also create a situation in which the victim cannot move out of the home to seek appropriate help and is more likely to be cut off from their normal support systems.
At this age of easy access to information, we are encountering some horrifying facts happening in the form of domestic violence. Specially, print and electronic media are quite alert to bring out these facts before the people. Moreover, from our general observation it can be pointed out that, domestic violence against women is quite a common phenomenon in Bangladesh. Domestic violence is still considered a “personal matter” and ignored by the community.
To curb the domestic violence against women the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), voluntary organizations, and religious leaders should come forward to raise awareness about it during this pandemic time. Social media (Facebook, twitter, instagram, messenger, YouTube, etc.) can play a vital role to raise awareness about domestic violence.
Moreover, measures should be taken to change social attitudes and beliefs that legitimize male violence and the notion of male superiority. Education, mass media campaign, street drama, etc. can play an important role in this regard. NGOs and government organizations also can take different programs to this end. There is a need to involve civil society, religious leaders in this regard. Victims need to be provided with direct support, counseling and legal aid. Some form of counseling for men is also needed to raise their awareness on human rights and gender issues.
The issue of domestic violence against women should to be included in school curricula, at all levels, from primary to tertiary and vocational training. All acts regarding violence against women (Domestic violence prevention and protection act, Acid control act, Dowry Prohibition act, etc) should to be strictly enforced with the provision for stringent punishment for offenders.
Economic empowerment of women is an important means to fight back at violence and injustice as it raises self-worth and supplement with resources to fight her battle. Therefore, girls will have to be given the necessary skill, training, education and employment opportunity so that they are capable of supporting themselves.
(Dr. Matiur Rahman is Research Consultant, Human Development Research Centre and Shishir Reza is Associate Member, Bangladesh Economic Association)
