Mitigating violence against women and young girls during COVID-19 induced lockdown in Nepal: a wake-up call
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COMMENTARY
Open Access
Mitigating violence against women and young girls during COVID-19 induced lockdown in Nepal: a wake-up call Minakshi Dahal1, Pratik Khanal2* , Sajana Maharjan3, Bindu Panthi4 and Sushil Nepal1
Abstract Nepal, a South Asian country, was in nationwide lockdown for nearly three months in 2020 with partial restrictions still in place. Much worryingly, COVID-19 induced restrictions have confined women and young girls in their home, increasing the risk of domestic violence. The available support system to respond to violence against women and girls (VAWG) has also been disrupted during this period. The figures of violence against women, and child sexual abuse are increasingly being reported during the lockdown and thereafter. To mitigate this, a response against VAWG should not be a missing agenda. This commentary focuses on the situation of VAWG during COVID-19 induced restrictions in Nepal and offers a way forward for addressing the issue.
Background Humanitarian emergency, post-disaster situations, and unrest are a difficult time for people increasing vulnerability for women and children as these situations are linked to an increase in VAWG [1]. COVID-19 is causing a tremendous impact on the world’s economy, and women and girls are facing higher risk as they are already disadvantaged and vulnerable. The fear and uncertainty caused due to the COVID-19 pandemic have intensified various inequalities against women, resulting in violence. There have been reports of an increase in violence against women around the world since the measures like social isolation and lockdown to contain COVID 19 have been imposed [2]. The UN has also identified gender-based violence (GBV) among one of the areas of impacts of COVID-19 on women, others being economy, health, unpaid care work, and in humanitarian and fragile settings and on human rights [3]. Nepal, a resource-constrained economy, ranking 101 out of 153 countries in global gender gap [4], cannot be * Correspondence: [email protected] 2 Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
outside this debate. We here discuss the gender impacts of COVID-19 restrictions in Nepalese women and young girls with a focus on violence, its consequences and way forward.
Main text Confinement and conflict in the home
COVID 19 has forced governments across the world to implement measures to restrict public movement. The situation of home confinement may exacerbate the existing VAWG due to their increased proximity to the perpetrator. Women and young girls might struggle to seek help in such conditions. The compromised support system further poses an increased risk of worsening the violence directed towards them. A nationwide complete lockdown was imposed in Nepal from March 24 to June 14 after which partial restrictions were in place [5]. A total of 885 complaints of domestic violence were received in 24-h toll-free helpline operated by National Women Commission from April to Jun
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