Research has shown that  stress associated with the disaster leads to higher rates of domestic violence.Social factors that put people more at risk for violence are reduced access to resources, increased stress due to job loss or strained finances, and disconnection from social support systems.With this pandemic, we’re seeing similar things happen, which unfortunately leads to circumstances that can foster violence.Before the pandemic, a survivor or victim could flee a violent situation by staying with a family member, going to a shelter or filing a case with the police. For many, such options aren’t easily available right now.  And this is happening in almost every country of the world. A longitudinal study found that intimate partner violence rates are highest in the poorest neighborhoods.

Listen in to the desperate message of the UN secretary General on the issue. This podcast listeners specially get to hear a personal message from Dr. Rajulben L. Desai, Member, National Commission for Women. She had been Principal Law College, Deesa (B.K.) Gujarat and is a prominent educationist and social worker who has worked extensively for the welfare of the Women and Children. She has been awarded the “Shreshtha Mahila Award” on the occasion of International Women’s Day in 2018.  Dr Desai shared a special whatsapp number on which women in distress can reach out through messaging  to seek help from NCW . The number is   7217735372 .

We conclude  with the words from Dr Geeta Kumar who is a specialist in Women’s Issues and has written several research papers on the topic.