Awam: Increasing reports of rape, domestic violence during MCO

All Women's Action Society (Awam) has revealed an increase in reported cases of rape, domestic violence, sexual harassment and mental health issues handled by its hotline during the movement control order (MCO) period which began on March 18.

Awam services programme officer Mayna Patel said its hotline Telenita has handled 178 cases since March 18.

This included eight rape cases, 32 domestic abuse cases, 34 sexual harassment cases and 26 callers reporting mental health issues.

"It's not a surprise to see domestic violence, gender-based violence on the rise during MCO. Globally it's going up as well as families are facing increased pressure due to joblessness and other economic pressures and people being kept in a confined space for a prolonged period of time," Patel told Malaysiakini.

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) has reported that even before the Covid-19 lockdowns, domestic violence was already one of the greatest human rights violations.

In fact, some 243 million women and girls (aged 15-49) were subjected to sexual or physical violence by an intimate partner in the last 12 months, UN Women executive director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka wrote on April 6, adding that as the Covid-19 pandemic continues, this number was likely to grow.

Patel said even as the numbers have increased, most cases go unreported.

"There are many factors why cases go unreported. What usually happens is that survivors are afraid of blackmail, pressure from families and being targetted at work.

"They are also unsure how police will react. Will they ask her what she was wearing, did she behave provocatively or some other form of victim-blaming.

"On top of that, there is a very long process for justice, and usually no easy proof. That's why many keep it to themselves, bottling it up until sooner or later they have a breakdown," she added.

According to Patel, most survivors do not ever come forward, and of those who do approach a group like Awam for counselling and advice, only around five percent go as far as making a police report, meaning that the numbers are much larger than official statistics might indicate.

"Awam would like to see the authorities recognise that these numbers indicate a serious situation on the ground.

"It must be taken seriously, better laws, better enforcement. Community to be aware of the realities that women are facing.

Rise in number of cases is slight - deputy minister

In Parliament today, Deputy Women and Family Development Minister Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff listed police statistics of cases of domestic violence involving women.

She said there were 4,026 cases in 2017, 3,947 in 2018, 3,435 cases in 2019, while this year from Jan 1 until March 17 there were 918 cases, and there have been 1,986 cases from March 18 to Aug 20.

"Most victims involve housewives, although if we look at the case that happened, there is a slight increase, but it's not very big," Siti Zailah (photo) said, citing financial problems and family disputes as to the main reason for the reported incidents.

Patel said: "I'm not sure how the deputy minister is interpreting the data but the minister herself, Rina Harun, said in June that the special tele-counselling service provided through the Talian Kasih helpline set up by her ministry has been offering psychological support to those affected by the MCO and has received over 2,000 calls during the MCO period.

"As a result, she (Rina) said the ministry was expected to table the proposed bills on sexual harassment and recognition of social work as a profession by the end of this year."

She added that through media monitoring, gender-based violence cases are also on the rise with 81 cases reported since July 1.

"Forty-three percent were by known perpetrators. And five of the 81 victims lost their lives, including the case of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) lecturer who was allegedly strangled by her husband for asking for a divorce," said Patel.

She conceded that many cases were very personal and it was very depressing that such acts were happening in society.

"But the fact that its happening means that work must be done. We can't give up and must continue to fight this. Awareness is getting better and more people are asking for help. That is a step in the right direction." - Mkini