Violence against women amid the coronavirus pandemic has witnessed a 174-per cent rise compared with April.
According to a telephonic survey done by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), the number of domestic violence incidents against women and children was 11,025 in May.
This was disclosed during a virtual press conference by MJF executive director Shaheen Anam on Wednesday.
Violence, along with mental, physical and sexual assault on women and children, was linked with the economic crisis women faced for joblessness due to lockdown, she said. The MJF conducted the survey as part of its month-long programme countrywide to find the extent of violence or problems women and children faced during lockdown.
The coronavirus shutdown kept all of them indoors.
The survey's participants were 53,340 women and children, a 25-per cent in women respondents than the April survey and a 16-per cent rise in children.
The survey had limitations in collecting information, Ms Anam said, adding, but it can be assumed that the extent of violence and torture is much higher than the findings.
As many as 108 associate organisations tried to reach the victims over phone and collect the information to find their real condition, she added. The survey found that 4,160 women and children were victims in May. It was 2,455 in April.
In addition, 179 incidents of sexual harassment, 54 cases of harassment while receiving food and other work, 48 cases of rape and attempts to rape and 17 murders occurred.
In May, the MJF's associate entities could stop 233 child marriages through local leaders.
But Ms Anam said this does not ensure that no marriage occurred after a week or by the end of May as it was hard to keep contact during lockdown.
Due to closure of medical, legal and follow-up support, arbitration and shelter homes, she said, information on real-time situation could not be collected.
"In most cases, women and children couldn't speak their mind during telephonic conversation. With family members surrounding them, they tended to talk less," Ms Anam said.
She sought better helpline service, campaign through religious institutions, provision of safe homes for violence survivors and proper implementation of 'virtual court ordinance'.
The MJF executive called for proper steps to increase scope for online classes for all children in rural and remote areas to prevent child marriage.
MJF director (knowledge management) Rizwanul Alam conducted the event where Rahima Sultana Kazal of Avash from Barisal, Farida Yasmin of RRI from Dhaka and Dr Zaman of ESDO from Thakurgaon shared their experiences.
smunima@yahoo.com
