Trend of Domestic Violence Increases During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Today's Memory, February 19, 2022

A portrait of the demonstration demanding that the perpetrator of domestic violence be punished. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Today's memory, four years ago, February 19, 2022, the Ministry of Empowerment of Women and Child Protection (Kementerian PPPA) revealed that the trend of domestic violence (KDRT) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of KDRT occurred due to economic factors.

Previously, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic spread everywhere. The pandemic does not only demand a high number of casualties. The pandemic is also able to make the living conditions of many people decline. Many people lose their jobs. KDRT also increases.

The massive transmission of the corona virus has brought big problems for the whole world since the beginning of 2020. The spread of the virus from Wuhan has made many families bankrupt. The corona virus can spread quickly and present many problems.

The economic sector was hit hard. Many people lost their jobs. There are also those who were laid off until conditions improved. The problem did not stop there. The COVID-19 pandemic actually became the estuary of an increase in domestic violence.

The narrative was once recorded by the South Kalimantan Police in mid-2021. They revealed that domestic violence occurred massively and increased both verbally and non-verbally. Verbal in the form of threatening, insulting, intimidating, to insulting. Non-verbally covers hitting to kicking.

Illustration of domestic violence. (ANTARA)

The number of cases of violence in South Kalimantan in mid-2021 has reached 60 percent of cases throughout 2020. The details are that the South Kalimantan Police are handling 147 cases consisting of 69 cases against women and 79 cases of children. This number is predicted to continue to increase.

Unlike during 2020 which reached 214 cases, women's cases reached 94 cases and 120 cases against children. This means there is a significant increase in cases of domestic violence. The owner of the authority also revealed that the average case of domestic violence occurred due to economic problems throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The number of cases handled in the first half of 2021 has reached more than sixty percent of cases throughout 2020. This husband and wife case mostly ends in divorce because there is no peaceful way," said Head of Public Relations of the South Kalimantan Police, Kombes Pol Mochamad Rifa'i, as quoted by the lamantempo, August 19, 2021.

The statement that the trend of domestic violence increased during the COVID-19 pandemic was also confirmed by the Ministry of PPPA on February 19, 2022. The authority owner revealed data from the Online Information System for the Protection of Women and Children (SIMFONI PPPA).

The results of the PPPA SYMPHONY revealed that in 2021 there were 10,247 cases of violence against women and 7,508 of which occurred in the household. This number cannot be considered trivial. The Ministry of PPPA considers the problem of domestic violence to be triggered by economic problems due to the pandemic.

The Ministry of PPPA expressed its sadness at the increase in domestic violence. However, the authority also appreciates the community who have dared to report domestic violence. This condition is because many victims of domestic violence do not have the courage to report.

The narrative makes the PPPA Ministry able to issue appropriate policies to help victims of domestic violence. They also prepare a call center for those who want to report experiencing domestic violence.

"Most cases of domestic violence occur due to economic factors. Moreover, during this pandemic, the trend of cases and reports of domestic violence has increased dramatically. However, there are still many victims who do not want to report because they are afraid of the threats they receive and feel that domestic violence is a family disgrace that does not need to be known by the surrounding environment. "

"KemenPPPA has a Sahabat Perempuan dan Anak or SAPA 129 (021-129) or WhatsApp 129 129 call center service, where victims of violence can report the violence they have experienced or know," said Assistant Deputy for the Protection of Women's Rights in the Family and Vulnerable KemenPPPA, Valentina Ginting as quoted by lamankompas.com, February 19, 2022.