Bhutanese women are now becoming increasingly aware of their rights, especially when it comes to reporting cases of physical violence from their partners. However, two in five women still feel that men can use physical violence under certain circumstances. This is according to the health ministry’s National Health Survey published recently. The survey further stated that almost 25 per cent of surveyed females experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence from their current or most recent partner.
During the survey conducted last year, more than 24,000 females from across the country were asked whether certain situations related to household responsibilities, relationship with their partner and faithfulness, can be a good reason to use physical violence against them.
43.9 per cent of them agreed that the use of physical violence against women is acceptable for a few of those reasons. Females in the age group of 15 to 64 were surveyed.
According to a health ministry official, this attitude of females towards violence has decreased from 53.4 per cent recorded in the 2017 survey.
The recent health survey also revealed that more females with higher level of education disagreed with such attitudes.
Moreover, females in rural areas agreed to the use of physical violence against them than those in urban areas.
According to RENEW, a Civil Society Organisation, in the domestic violence cases it receives, usually the survivor is forced to stay in the relationship due to financial dependence, non-existent social network or support system and stigmatisation regarding violence in the community.
“A lot of our women get into the cycle of violence and especially, when the perpetrator is very violent and it keeps happening over and over again. They become too dependent on the abuse. It’s like addiction, violence is also like addiction as some women get addicted to it because, after the violence, the perpetrator becomes very loving, kind and compassionate to woo the woman back,” said Tshering Dolkar, Executive Director of RENEW.
She added that it is important for people to understand that any form of violence is a crime.
Therefore, RENEW said, the organisation will continue their advocacy on violence against women and men.
Meanwhile, most of the people BBS talked to felt that such violence against women or any gender is not justified regardless of any reason.
“Even these days, the dominating husband is often endured by some women. They are beaten, yet they stay silent. Even by law, it is not okay. I have two kids, and when the youngest was born, after a week I divorced my husband because he used to do that,” said Dechen, a resident.
“From my perspective, when they are having an argument, raising hands is not justified at all. It’s not justified because the husband and wife are already not on good terms and on top of that, this will only worsen the relationship,” said Rinchen Tshering, another resident.
Last year, RENEW recorded over 1,000 domestic violence cases. And this year, within six months, over 600 cases were reported.
If a person is experiencing any form of violence, reach out to the RENEW office or contact the National Commission for Women and Children through their toll-free helpline at 1098.
Singye Dema
Edited by Tshering Zam
