PEC Founder Prita Jha speaks on criminal justice failures for women during lockdown
A webinar held in October 2020 on gender violence highlighted how the COVID-19 lockdown in India exacerbated violence against women and increased their vulnerability. Experts at the discussion pointed out that confined living conditions intensified domestic tension, leading to a rise in distress calls from adolescent girls and reports of abuse, including cybercrimes and the sharing of pornographic material during the lockdown period.
Speakers also criticised the criminal justice system’s response, citing issues such as delayed or inadequate police action, poor investigation quality, and mishandling of forensic evidence. Some panelists referenced high-profile cases like the Hathras rape to underscore how narratives and legal processes can further fail survivors.
Overall, the webinar underscored that lockdown measures — while necessary for public health — had serious unintended consequences for women’s safety and access to justice.