Domestic Violence – A Social Stigma

Violence against women is the most apparent gender-specific violation of human rights and is a form of discrimination against women.

One in every three women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime globally, most recurrently by an intimate partner, according to the UN.

Most women in Bangladesh still suffer from chronic abuse, including dowry-related murder, acid attacks, marital rape, and many types of physical and mental torture by close family members or intimate partners. The women do not want to disclose their experiences to others.

At present, the COVID-19 pandemic is the perfect opportunity for domestic violence to be flourished. The severity of domestic violence is increasing globally during the pandemic. In this lockdown situation, the perpetrators have full access to oppress the victims with ease.

Unluckily, the matters connecting to domestic violence are not deliberated much in the community and there is barely any awareness among the victims concerning how and where to seek remedies for this.

A Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) survey found that 72.7 percent of women, who experienced violence by their partners, never reported the incidents; only 2.1 percent of women reported them to local leaders, and only 1.1 percent sought police help.

Many private and public organizations are working vigorously to end domestic violence. They are empowering women to raise their voice against such a heinous social norm. The most needed thing is to raise public awareness and bringing about a change in mindset to end violence against women and children in the country.