Sampada A. Khatiwada

Sudden change in lifestyle due to the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by series of lockdown, has affected all of us. The pandemic has certainly led to some behavioral changes in human lives but has it also inflicted cruelty on us.
If we look upon the increasing cases of domestic violence worldwide, including Nepal, it is women who suffer the most. Rather than the fear of virus infection, most women are in more fear of their husbands, in-laws and others.
According to the Women's Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC), during three months into the lockdown, it had registered 379 cases of domestic violence, 61 cases of social violence, 82 cases of rape, 23 cases of sexual abuse, 19 cases of attempt to rape, 12 cases of murder, four cases of attempt to murder and 14 cases of cybercrime.
The data shows that crime and cruelty take place, even if we stay inside our homes, which is considered to be the safest place. In majority of the cases, the perpetrators are family members, and neighbours in some. This shows that people, especially women and children are not safe even with their family members. Family is supposed to be the most loving, caring and supportive people in one's life. Think about the helplessness one goes through when one is threatened and abused physically and mentally by own family members.
Though not justifiable, fear of the virus infection, drug and alcohol abuse, downfall in income source, frustration of not getting to go outside and a sudden change in everyday routine could be the reasons behind escalating cases of domestic violence.
Whatever the reason, violence of any kind against women and men is not justifiable on any grounds. The data revealed by WOREC are only the cases that were registered. There are many unspoken, unheard, unsearched and unregistered cases of domestic violence around us. These cases give the feeling of impunity and dominance to the perpetrators, thereby encouraging them to commit even fearsome crimes within the four walls of their homes.
The Makwanpur murder case could be an example. A lady was disgustingly murdered by her own in-laws over monetary issue. After the police investigated into the case, it was found that her father-in-law had tried to rape his widow daughter-in-law and all other family members joined hands to mentally torture her, blaming her for the death of their son. Had this case of domestic violence been reported in time, her life would have been saved. This particular event reveals another bizarre fact - majority of the crime committers were females – mothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law. They were involved in killing a helpless woman.
The Makawanpur case shows that it is time for all to take stand as a responsible member of the society against the unspoken cases of domestic violence and be the voice of the victims of violence who have not been able to speak up themselves due to mental trauma or the fear of perpetrators.
Impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators would only encourage them to impose their brutal instincts on victims and torture them physically and mentally all the more.