Sampada Anuranjanee Khatiwada

As the ongoing nationwide lockdown to combat COVID-19 has affected the government's regime on so many levels, socio-cultural lives of people is no exception to it. As people’s lives are limited within their homes, the cases of Violence against Women (VAW) are reportedly increasing.
According to the Women Rehabilitation Center (WOREC), it has registered cases of violence against girls and women during lockdown, from March 24 to May 1.  Staying inside the house for over 45 days has exposed women to physical and sexual violence from their partners or family members.
The WOREC revealed that out of 103 cases related to domestic violence, 15 were of social violence, 26 related to rape and five were attempted rape. Also, one murder, seven sexual harassment cases, 11 suicide cases, two attempted murder and two cases of cybercrime were registered in WOREC amid COVID-19 pandemic.
It is evident that the COVID-19 pandemic has instigated fear and frustration over people as they are not being able to live a normal life. But it is alarming how women's rights are being violated in the wake of their families' fear and frustration. Even before COVID-19 existed, domestic violence was already one of the threats to women's rights, but the pandemic has only let VAW cases grow in numbers.
As stepping out of the house has been prohibited by the government, the victims of domestic violence are not being able to raise their voice or take a legal action against it. It is also difficult to reach out to the police station or to other complaint hearing mechanisms.
The COVID-19 pandemic is certain to bring about long term change in human behaviour, the psychologists say. Violent men or even women could take the lockdown as an opportunity to impose their interests upon women or misbehave and torture them.
Facing physical and mental trauma for more than 45 days, the victims of domestic violence, on the other hand may have a long-term psychological impact. Thus, government's attention must be drawn into this issue. As the increase in VAW cases leaves both, personal and societal impacts, actions must be taken as soon as possible.
The government has mobilised all three tiers to combat the COVID-19 scare. Likewise, the federal, state and local levels must be deployed in identifying the cases of violence against women and punishing the perpetrators. As the situation that we are in right now is not normal, special human resources and other mechanisms are required to check the rise in gender violence. Special helpline numbers for psychological counseling and for complaint hearing must be introduced to reach women despite the lockdown and register their complaints.
Increase in violence against women requires urgent and effective measures to provide relief to women on both, physical and emotional levels. All in all, the government and concerned authorities must make sure that women's vulnerability and feeling of helplessness will not increase by the end of COVID-19 pandemic.