The National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC) and Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women (RENEW) recorded an increasing number of domestic abuse during the lockdown. More than 100 calls were recorded by the two organisations concerning domestic violence in just 17 days.
Domestic violence calls to NCWC and RENEW surged by almost double during the lockdown. There were 118 calls to NCWC and RENEW till Thursday. Most of the calls came from women while NCWC also received a few cases of domestic violence reported by men. Calls also came from third parties such as family members, neighbours and front line workers. Both organisations have recorded domestic violence in terms of physical and emotional.
For now, cases are being recorded. But some have been reported to the police. A few of them were brought to shelters, given counselling and Druk Gyalpo’s Kidu Relief Fund.
Earlier, the NCWC said with people being mostly indoors and at home, it gives an increased situation to threats such as domestic violence. The abuser takes advantage of such situations and many women and children become victims of abuse, particularly those who are economically dependent on the abuser.
According to the Domestic Violence Prevention Act 2013, violence means any act, behaviour towards a person which results in physical, sexual, emotional and economic abuse. And any person who commits domestic violence is liable for the offence as per the Penal Code of Bhutan.
Samten Dolkar
