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Abstract
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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...
Language: en |