Daily Times

There is much yet to expose regarding the violence against women because we contemplate and examine according to the violence cases against women which are veiled and exposed. But the reality is that there are more uncountable cases than the exposed about the infringement of women’s rights which are still unveiled.

The rights of women are being violated in all forms of family systems throughout the world. Even the cases of domestic violence against women amidst the coronavirus outbreak in developed countries have shrunk the narrative that women’s rights are more protected in developed countries. But the difference lies in the status of domestic violence against women only in the number.

Violating women’s rights is highly prevalent. Violence by a partner is the most common cause of violence. The most disgusting is that the violence remains higher than normal conditions in emergencies such as war, pandemic, and many other emergency types. Older and disabled women are expected to have additional risks in the epoch of the emergency. One woman in 3 faces physical or sexual violence in the world, already.

In the coronavirus epoch, women’s rights are under danger especially at the hands of their partners

According to an article published in American magazine Times titled “As Cities Around the World Go on Lockdown, Victims of Domestic Violence Look for a Way Out”, writer Melissa Godin opines that the reports from China, the United Kingdom, the United States of America as well as from other countries suggested the surge in the domestic violence against women after the coronavirus outbreak. Even, the United Nations and the World Health Organization have already warned against the expected threats to women’s rights in the shape of domestic violence.

A three time increase in cases of domestic violence was reported to a police station in Jingzhou, a city of the province of Hubei in the second month of 2020 as compared to the same period of the previous year.

In the coronavirus epoch, women’s rights are under danger especially at the hands of their partners. According to the World Health Organization, “Violence against women can result in injuries and serious physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health problems, including sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and unplanned pregnancies.”

The condition of women’s rights is more vulnerable in the conflict-ridden and war-torn countries. Gross violations against women’s rights have been reported after the eruption of coronavirus in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. The violation of women’s rights is becoming severe in the occupied valley. Women are deprived of their basic rights of treatment and movement. The rights of women are also under danger in Syria and many other parts of African countries.

In the United Kingdom, many cases of domestic violence have been registered during the pandemic. To counter the rise in such cases, the UK government has launched helpline and online services to register and respond to complains regarding domestic violence. According to the national sources of the country, “the number of calls to the National Domestic Abuse helpline run by Refuge was 25% above average in the second week of lockdown and 49% higher than normal after three weeks.”

Women in Pakistan were already sweltering in the heat of domestic violence, but the pandemic is making the situation more vulnerable as in other parts of the world. The increasing use of abusive language against women, calling them responsible for the expansion of coronavirus because of wearing short dresses by some religious clerics, sexual violence, harassment of nurses, female doctors, and other female staff in hospitals who are treating coronavirus patients especially and many more. Even, some days ago, a case was reported in KP where uncle murdered a child girl by firing because she made a noise.

The World Health Organization suggested improving the situation by stating that,

“All stakeholders involved in COVID-19 the response need to raise awareness of the potential effects that physical distancing, stay at home and other measures are likely to have on women who are subjected to violence and their children.”

However, government and policymakers should play their pivotal and effective role in order to counter domestic violence by taking preventive measures. Human rights organizations and civil society should also play their role to highlight the cases which are still unreported. We all should become the voice of voiceless.

The writer is a member of the American Bar Association