Aangan Trust, 82.5 Communications highlight lockdown domestic abuse

Aangan Trust, 82.5 Communications highlight lockdown domestic abuse

For now, it is a print campaign.

Aangan Trust

MUMBAI: For most people, home is a safe haven and a comfort zone but it is not the same for everyone. In fact, during the lockdown, there has been a surge in domestic cases. Sections like women, children and the elderly faced violence of unspeakable proportions.

Recently a report released by India’s National Commission for Women (NCW) stated that it registered 587 domestic violence complaints between 23 March and 16 April, a significant surge from 396 complaints received in the previous 25 days between 27 February and 22 March.

A heart-crushing print campaign from the Aangan Trust and 82.5 Communications takes a stark look at what is happening inside the four walls of homes. 82.5 Communications chairman and chief creative officer Sumanto Chattopadhyay says: “You are actually imprisoned in your own house with the abuser. One cannot even escape the situation due to the lockdown and if the person finds out, you will be in more trouble. There are a lot of reports not just in India but around the world saying domestic violence cases have gone up due to the pandemic. So, Aangan Trust has decided that during lockdown they will also focus around this area.”

82.5 Communications has worked very closely with the NGO in the past as well. There are no plans to make a video campaign on this issue.

Sumanto says that the entire shoot took place at home with the help of art directors. Models in the post sought help from family members to capture the expression and make it more realistic. 82.5 Communications Bangalore creative head Ravi and Mukund ideated the campaign.

Aangan Trust head of communications and advocacy Ratna Gill says, “The main thought behind doing the campaign was to create awareness about how domestic violence cases have increased during lockdown. Another important point that we wanted to address was how neighbours can help. As an organisation, we have been trying to mobilise neighbours. We are trying to get them to think about what innovative forms of intervention can look like during a lockdown." 

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Gill has listed some points on how people can support someone in quarantine with an abuser. The following community-based interventions are modelled after tactics that Aangan Trust is employing in hotspots for violence and abuse across India.

Gill suggests talking about the incident is important. Signal to them that you’ve noticed signs that someone in their home may be processing anger or frustration in dangerous ways right now.

Once they know they have an ally, you can get to work planning. Come up with a code word and establish what it means. Establish with them that you will be taking action after an agreed-upon amount of time passes.

Be available when the help is required. It may be difficult for them to reach out to helplines in case of an emergency so you can offer to be a resource to reach out to your local helpline on their behalf, sharing their location and other details.

You can help your friend figure out the closest public point of safety they could go to in case of an emergency.

On your end, keep a list of helplines saved on your phone, and encourage your friend to add your number to their speed dial.

If you hear neighbours engaged in an unsafe situation, one option is to ring the doorbell to disrupt the moment and defuse a situation temporarily. If you feel that a situation between neighbours is becoming violent, alert the authorities.

Gill works very closely with the leads in all the locations that they are present. The NGO operates in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and they closely work with government shelter homes in Assam and Orissa to make sure they have good standard of care that keep children live there in safe space. It seeks help from local stakeholders who become their spokesperson from that area. It could be a police commissioner or a member of a panchayat. They are responsible for creating an awareness that despite lockdown people can reach out to them for help.

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