10-Sep-21 14:00

Sumitra Visvanathan, Executive Director, Women’s Aid Organization

It's said that women have borne much of the brunt of the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to UN Women, one in three women experienced physical or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner in prepandemic times. During the pandemic, there has been a dramatic increase of violence against women and girls, particularly of domestic violence, as lockdown measures also saw women with violent partners increasingly isolated from people and resources that could help them. The post-pandemic economic impact has further limited women’s opportunities to escape violent situations. This “Shadow Pandemic”, as defined by UN Women is growing, and here in Malaysia, the Women's Aid Organisation is one of the many CSO's helping women experiencing domestic violence. We catch up with Sumitra Visvanathan, the Executive Director of WAO, to discuss this and also why we must prioritize the eradication of gender-based violence, even in times of austerity.

If you or anyone you know are experiencing domestic violence, call the 24-hour WAO hotline at 03-3000 8858 or SMS/WhatsApp 018-988 8058.