Social and economic perspective of domestic violence during Covid-19: a comparative study of Maldives, Malaysia and Pakistan

Domestic violence is a worldwide epidemic, and the UN lists it as the worst human rights violation before the Covid-19 outbreak. A large rise in domestic violence incidents occurred when governments adopted emergency lockdown measures due to a worldwide Covid-19 epidemic. The unprecedented rise in domestic violence cases under Covid-19 serves as a wake-up call for the states. This study aims to examine the reasons for the increase in domestic violence and the methods used by stakeholders to address the issue in South Asian and Far Eastern countries, specifically the Maldives, Pakistan, and Malaysia. This paper adopted the qualitative research method in collecting data. The statistics indicate an alarming surge in domestic violence cases during Covid-19, and clear links exist between Covid-19 and domestic violence, impacting the economic and social crisis. This study confirmes that the state interventions to deal with this social problem are inadequate. Domestic violence has been worsened by growing unemployment, financial stress, anxiety and lack of community services. Furthermore, states have significant difficulties in addressing such issues due to a lack of cooperation across government agencies and stakeholders. Finally, this research recommends policy initiatives and legislative reforms to decrease domestic violence during this crucial period.

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