Shadow Pandemic: Violence Against Women in COVID Times and Now

Abstract

Violence towards women remains terribly pervasive and affects 1 in 3 (roughly 736 million) women across their lifetime. This violence can be from an intimate or non-intimate partner and has been fairly unchanged over that last decade. The COVID-19 pandemic had put a great burden on the existing healthcare system. The patients requiring treatment for other ailments were also suffering. Among these were the antenatal services which were hampered and added to the stress in pregnancy. This situation has been suggested to make women more prone to violence in different forms. Since the onset of the pandemic, there has been data emerging from front line workers that violence of all forms against women and girls has intensified. Addressing this Shadow Pandemic was a healthcare crisis of global proportions, but of special significance in the patriarchal Indian scenario and needs to be prioritized amidst the COVID care issues. However, even after COVID has passed, the Shadow Pandemic seems to linger on. The first step forward is awareness, followed by access and availability of services. This cannot be achieved overnight but by a step-wise approach. There is urgent need to adapt our approach, integrate these issues into our healthcare systems so that survivors can access appropriate medical and social services.