Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan & wife Ayesha shared a video on social media, sending an important message regarding domestic violence. With people staying at home amid the COVID-19 lockdown, reports of rising cases of domestic violence have also come out. Dhawan, who is currently spending time with his family, urged people to stop this social evil by choosing the right partner for themselves. World Health Organisation (WHO) says that the risk of intimate partner violence is likely to increase, as distancing measures are put in place and people are encouraged to stay at home. On April 6, UN chief António Guterres called for measures to address a ‘horrifying global surge in domestic violence’ directed towards women amid the lockdown. As per the National Commission of Women (NCW), the number of cases in mid-April had doubled during lockdown compared to pre-lockdown days. In 25 days between March 23 & April 16, the commission received 239 complaints, mainly through email and WhatsApp number. This is almost double the number of complaints (123) received during the previous 25 days, from February 27 to March 22.
