WHEN governments around the world first began announcing lockdown measures to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, a distinct unease was expressed by women activists, rights group and shelter homes, remembering all too clearly the fallout of previous environmental and financial disasters on families. With millions of people confined to the four walls of their homes during the current crisis, they feared there would be a sudden increase in the number of domestic violence cases, especially against children and women. And, indeed, this is precisely what is now being witnessed around the world. In the US, for instance, domestic abuse helplines and police stations have been receiving 10pc to 30pc more distress calls in recent weeks. With self-isolation being encouraged or enforced by states, victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault are largely being forgotten in the ‘big picture’ battle against Covid-19. However, such vulnerable individuals are facing multiple layers of isolation: trapped in close proximity with their abusers who mentally and physically torture them, and with nowhere to escape, they are cut off from any kind of support system they may have been able to access before the lockdowns were put in place. Added to this is the rise of unemployment and stress within families, which is known to lead to increased instances of violence.

According to WHO, approximately 38pc of all women’s murders are committed by an intimate partner, and Pakistan has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world. Keeping these chilling realities in mind, and acknowledging the current strain on law-enforcement agencies, the Women Action Forum has urged the Sindh government to ensure protection of vulnerable women and children during these difficult times by upholding laws such as the Sindh Domestic Violence Act, 2013, and making sure that domestic violence helplines and shelter homes remain in operation. This advice should extend to all of Pakistan. The current pandemic may be a new threat that we may know how to defeat, but violence against women is an age-old evil.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2020