GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN INDIA: LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a globally prevalent human rights issue that involves social determinants like norms, values, power relations, socio-economic situations, etc. Key indicators include domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and harassment. This paper reviews the literature published in academic journals, government and NGO reports and mass media reports to understand the roots of GBV against women in India and the factors leading to its increased intensity during the COVID-19 pandemic. As GBV, with slight geographical variations, mostly remains unreported in India, the same pattern is reported by the available literature, thereby the total number of victims remains unrecorded. The COVID-19 preventive measures, such as quarantine and limited services, further enhanced the already persistent gender-based inequalities and also restricted possibilities for reporting. With limitations of the study, the paper is focused only on female-specific cases thereby leaving out the sections such as males, LGBTQ, and other categories outside of the scope of the study. Summing up, recommendations based on analysis are given for policy framing, legal advocacy, administrative accountability, and counselling purpose to ensure a holistic strategy and not a piecemeal approach with emphasis on making an attitudinal change to combat GBV. This paper concluding observation is that long-term structural changes in social attitudes and behaviours and treating women with equity are essential for eradicating gender-based violence. In all such endeavours, women’s active participation is essential. Finally, women’s active agency will ensure a positive and robust change in containing and eradicating gender-based violence.