In the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, authorities around the world have reported rising cases of abuse against women as a result of lockdown. Women are doing unpaid work to cater to their family needs, also, managing their work from home. On 17 April, National Commission for Women (NCW) said that they registered 587 complaints from March 23 to April 16 and 239 are related to domestic violence. The cases of domestic violence are high in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Punjab. Cases have increased as husbands letting out their frustration and anger on wives and children. And the victims have no escape from their abusers. The victims are also scared to complain. Most of the complaints are coming at night by e-mails and WhatsApp helpline. Women are being scolded and assaulted. When we talk about domestic violence, domestic and marital rape doesn’t be considered. Even, it is not crime according to IPC. But any sexual intercourse between spouses without consent is also rape. It graves human rights violation. PornHub recorded 95% increase in traffic among India in first 20 days of lockdown and now they made their premium content free. It is not wrong to assume that it may increase up the marital rapes. Liquor shops will be opening in some areas according to lockdown 3.0 guidelines but it will only increase domestic violence and make situation difficult for women. Some universities in America assumed 20% increase in violence against women during lockdown in all 193 UN states. In fact, many cases have been recorded for violence with medical staff. In Delhi, man arrested for molesting two safdarjung doctors. Now, Epidemic Diseases Act has been amended to protect health workers from harassment and abuse.
Many rape cases reported during lockdown from different parts of the country. Some are:
In Noida, an eight year old was raped and murdered by her cousin. A similar case reported in Madhya Pradesh, where a six year old was raped. A visually challenged woman was raped inside her house. Some cases of gang rape also have been reported. Girl raped by her friend and 10 others in Jharkhand. A 38 year old woman of Assam was abducted from her house and raped and murdered. Amidst the quarantine, woman was raped by 3 in school premises of Rajasthan.
Most of the rape cases don’t even get FIR. The number of actual cases is too high. Women are neither safe inside homes nor outside. Whole nation is obeying the lockdown but there is no lockdown against violence on women.
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