Indian Actress and Director Nandita Das released a short film this week on the rise of domestic violence during the lockdown imposed due to the Covid 19 pandemic. The film created by Das features herself and her son.
As the Covid 19 pandemic spread across the world, people were forced to stay home to safeguard themselves for victims of domestic violence it was the most dangerous place to be. Unable to evade their abusers and forced live with them at home around the clock, a spike in domestic violence incidents were reported from across the world.
According to the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Dubravka Simonovic restrictive measures adopted worldwide to fight COVID-19 has intensified the risk of domestic violence.
The Film by Das titled Listen to Her, therefore seeks to highlight the plight of these victims. It has been supported by UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women, and the South Asia Foundation.
Listen to Her, a seven-minute film depicts Das as a woman trying to work from home while taking care of her children as well as dealing with a demanding and lazy husband. During the melee, she receives a call from a woman trying to call a domestic violence helpline but has called Das mistakenly instead.
Das has said in the film she attempted to portray the effect the lockdown has had on women, the double burden of work, and violence.
Watch the film below :
