In the last 10 days of the nationwide lockdown, 31 women were reportedly victimized by domestic violence. This is as per records maintained with Respect, Educate, Nurture, and Empower Women (RENEW). It is a huge increase compared to the same period during the previous lockdown. Three children were also reportedly abused.
A total of 41 people sought support from the RENEW and its community-based volunteers. The majority of them were women.
27 of them were physically abused by their spouse while 11 were emotionally abused. Likewise, one was sexually abused, and two were exposed to economic abuse.
According to the Program Director with RENEW Meenakshi Rai, given the surge in the cases compared to the same period during the previous lockdown, there might be many unreported cases.
This time, men are also reportedly exposed to some form of domestic violence. RENEW has so far recorded seven such cases across the country of which two are reportedly in a temporary shelter in Thimphu.
To provide temporary shelter to victims of domestic violence during the lockdown, community-based volunteers established shelters in almost all the dzongkhags after the second nationwide lockdown was announced. Besides shelter, counsellors and volunteers also provide counselling support over phone calls.
”Due to the lockdown, face-to-face counselling with clients is not possible. Likewise, we cannot give online counselling as well because when we talk to clients, we have to talk to their partners, which is not possible,’’ said Meenakshi Rai.
Meanwhile, the RENEW recorded 26 cases of domestic violence during the first nationwide lockdown between 11th August and 5th September.
RENEW is a non-profit organization that works towards eliminating all forms of violence.
Phub Gyem
