Analysis of the Significant Increase of Gender-Based Violence During the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Conflict Zone: the Case of Afghanistan

Maretha Syawallin Umarach, Derina Faslig Silitonga, Humairah Muljabar

Abstract


Since it was recorded for the first time in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019, the number of cases of coronavirus infections around the world has been increasing every day. WHO further declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. This pandemic certainly has direct implications for the country's condition, especially concerning issues of women and children. As one of the worst-performing countries in providing gender-based protection, Afghanistan has shown a significant increase in the number of gender-based physical, sexual, and psychological violence during the pandemic. By applying the structural violence and neopatriarchy approaches, this article conducted an in-depth analysis of the problem formulation of why Afghanistan experienced a significant increase in cases of gender-based violence (GBV) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research results revealed that the patriarchal culture rooted in the constitution, competition in the legal system, and erosion in government institutions are some of the structural factors that have led to a significant increase in the number of gender-based violence in Afghanistan during the COVID-19 pandemic. The above factors have also caused several policies passed by the government during the pandemic that severely discriminated against women and children.

Keywords


Afghanistan; COVID-19; Gender Based Violence; Policy

Full Text:

PDF

References


Book

Baskin, J. (2008). ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ ΠΑΡΟΧΗΣ ΑΕΡΙΟΥ ΑΤΤΙΚΗΣ Page 1 of 2. March, 6–7.

Journal

Bahri, J. (2014). Western gender policies in Afghanistan: Failing women and provoking men. Gender, Technology and Development, 18(2), 163–185. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971852414529480

Choudhury, S. (2016). Women and conflict in India. Women and Conflict in India, October, 1–162. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315731988

Galtung, J. (n.d.). Violence, peace,.

Galtung, J. (1990). Cultural Violence. Journal of Peace Research, 27(3), 291–305. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343390027003005

Habiba, U., Ali, R., & Ashfaq, A. (2016). From Patriarchy to Neopatriarchy: Experiences of Women from Pakistan. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 6(3), 212–221.

Kandiyoti, D. (2007). Old dilemmas or new challenges? The politics of gender and reconstruction in Afghanistan. Development and Change, 38(2), 169–199. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7660.2007.00408.x

Mannell, J., Grewal, G., Ahmad, L., & Ahmad, A. (2021). A Qualitative Study of Women’s Lived Experiences of Conflict and Domestic Violence in Afghanistan. Violence Against Women, 27(11), 1862–1878. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801220935191

Moghadam, V. M. (2002). Patriarchy, the Taleban, and politics of public space in Afghanistan. Women’s Studies International Forum, 25(1), 19–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-5395(02)00224-8

Mosse, J. C. (1993). Back matter - Half the World Half a Chance. Half the World, Half a Chance, 211–232. https://doi.org/10.3362/9780855987633.010

Samar, S. (2019). Feminism, Peace, and Afghanistan. Journal of International Affairs.

Stokes, S., Seritan, A. L., & Miller, E. (2016). Care Seeking Patterns Among Women Who Have Experienced Gender-Based Violence in Afghanistan. Violence Against Women, 22(7), 817–831. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801215616807

Qazi Zada, S. (2021). Legislative, institutional and policy reforms to combat violence against women in Afghanistan. Indian Journal of International Law, 59(1–4), 257–283. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40901-020-00116-x

Wylie, G. (2003). Women’s rights and ‘righteous war.’ 217–223.

AfghanistanAnalystNetwork. (2020). Covid-19 in Afghanistan (7): The effects of the pandemic on the private lives and safety of women at home. AfghanistanAnalystNetwork. https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/en/reports/economy-development-environment/covid-19-in-afghanistan-7-the-effects-of-the-pandemic-on-the-private-lives-and-safety-of-women-at-home/

Bahri, J. (2014). Western gender policies in Afghanistan: Failing women and provoking men. Gender, Technology and Development, 18(2), 163–185. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971852414529480

Barr, H. (2020). A crucial moment for women’s rights in Afghanistan. Human Right Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/05/crucial-moment-womens-rights-afghanistan

Baskin, J. (2008). ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ ΠΑΡΟΧΗΣ ΑΕΡΙΟΥ ΑΤΤΙΚΗΣ Page 1 of 2. March, 6–7.

Choudhury, S. (2016). Women and conflict in India. Women and Conflict in India, October, 1–162. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315731988

Cousins, S. (2020). A quiet crisis: As the economy fractures, violence soars for Afghan women. The New Humanitarian. https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2020/12/16/Afghanistan-women-economy-gender-based-violence

Galtung, J. (n.d.). Violence, peace,.

Galtung, J. (1990). Cultural Violence. Journal of Peace Research, 27(3), 291–305. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343390027003005

Habiba, U., Ali, R., & Ashfaq, A. (2016). From Patriarchy to Neopatriarchy: Experiences of Women from Pakistan. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 6(3), 212–221.

Hossaini, K. (2020). Covid-19 in Afghanistan (7): The effects of the pandemic on the private lives and safety of women at home - Afghanistan Analysts Network - English. 7.

Kandiyoti, D. (2007). Old dilemmas or new challenges? The politics of gender and reconstruction in Afghanistan. Development and Change, 38(2), 169–199. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7660.2007.00408.x

Kandiyoti, D. (2018). Reconstruction & Women’s Rights in Afghanistan. April.

Mannell, J., Grewal, G., Ahmad, L., & Ahmad, A. (2021). A Qualitative Study of Women’s Lived Experiences of Conflict and Domestic Violence in Afghanistan. Violence Against Women, 27(11), 1862–1878. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801220935191

Martin, L., & Parto, S. (n.d.). On Shaky Grounds COVID-19 and Afghanistan’s Social, Political and Economic Capacities for Sustainable Peace.

Matilda Carlsson. (2016). Conflict-Related Sexual Violence--A Cross-National Comparison of Circumstances Related to State Forces ’ Use of Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict s. January 2016, 56. http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:897318/FULLTEXT01.pdf

Moghadam, V. M. (2002). Patriarchy, the Taleban, and politics of public space in Afghanistan. Women’s Studies International Forum, 25(1), 19–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-5395(02)00224-8

Mosse, J. C. (1993). Back matter - Half the World Half a Chance. Half the World, Half a Chance, 211–232. https://doi.org/10.3362/9780855987633.010

Nasimi, S. (2014). The devastating truth of women’s rights in Afghanistan. Open Democracy. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opensecurity/devastating-truth-of-womens-rights-in-afghanistan/

Network, A. A., & Kazemi, S. R. (2020). Covid-19 in {Afghanistan} (5): {Snapshots} of women’s living under coronavirus in and around {Herat} city. May.

Qazi Zada, S. (2021). Legislative, institutional and policy reforms to combat violence against women in Afghanistan. Indian Journal of International Law, 59(1–4), 257–283. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40901-020-00116-x

Samar, S. (2019). Feminism, Peace, and Afghanistan. Journal of International Affairs.

Stokes, S., Seritan, A. L., & Miller, E. (2016). Care Seeking Patterns Among Women Who Have Experienced Gender-Based Violence in Afghanistan. Violence Against Women, 22(7), 817–831. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801215616807

UN Women. (2020). COVID-19 and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. UN Women Headquarters, 10. https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/library/publications/2020/issue-brief-covid-19-and-ending-violence-against-women-and-girls-en.pdf?la=en&vs=5006

UNAMA & OHCHR. (2009). End the Abuse of Women in Afghanistan. July, 1–32. https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/vaw-english_1.pdf%0A

UNDP. (2020). Gender Based Violence and Covid-19. UNDP Brief, 6. https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/womens-empowerment/gender-based-violence-and-covid-19.html

Wylie, G. (2003). Women’s rights and ‘righteous war.’ 217–223.

Yoyo. (2018). Neo-patriarchy and the Problem of the Arab Crisis: A CritiCal study on Hisham Sharabi’s Works. Qudus International Journal of Islamic Studies, 6(2), 251–267. https://doi.org/10.21043/qijis.v6i2.3808

Website

AfghanistanAnalystNetwork. (2020). Covid-19 in Afghanistan (7): The effects of the pandemic on the private lives and safety of women at home. AfghanistanAnalystNetwork. https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/en/reports/economy-development-environment/covid-19-in-afghanistan-7-the-effects-of-the-pandemic-on-the-private-lives-and-safety-of-women-at-home/

Bahri, J. (2014). Western gender policies in Afghanistan: Failing women and provoking men. Gender, Technology and Development, 18(2), 163–185. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971852414529480

Barr, H. (2020). A crucial moment for women’s rights in Afghanistan. Human Right Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/05/crucial-moment-womens-rights-afghanistan

Baskin, J. (2008). ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ ΠΑΡΟΧΗΣ ΑΕΡΙΟΥ ΑΤΤΙΚΗΣ Page 1 of 2. March, 6–7.

Choudhury, S. (2016). Women and conflict in India. Women and Conflict in India, October, 1–162. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315731988

Cousins, S. (2020). A quiet crisis: As the economy fractures, violence soars for Afghan women. The New Humanitarian. https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2020/12/16/Afghanistan-women-economy-gender-based-violence

Galtung, J. (n.d.). Violence, peace,.

Galtung, J. (1990). Cultural Violence. Journal of Peace Research, 27(3), 291–305. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343390027003005

Habiba, U., Ali, R., & Ashfaq, A. (2016). From Patriarchy to Neopatriarchy: Experiences of Women from Pakistan. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 6(3), 212–221.

Hossaini, K. (2020). Covid-19 in Afghanistan (7): The effects of the pandemic on the private lives and safety of women at home - Afghanistan Analysts Network - English. 7.

Kandiyoti, D. (2007). Old dilemmas or new challenges? The politics of gender and reconstruction in Afghanistan. Development and Change, 38(2), 169–199. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7660.2007.00408.x

Kandiyoti, D. (2018). Reconstruction & Women’s Rights in Afghanistan. April.

Mannell, J., Grewal, G., Ahmad, L., & Ahmad, A. (2021). A Qualitative Study of Women’s Lived Experiences of Conflict and Domestic Violence in Afghanistan. Violence Against Women, 27(11), 1862–1878. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801220935191

Martin, L., & Parto, S. (n.d.). On Shaky Grounds COVID-19 and Afghanistan’s Social, Political and Economic Capacities for Sustainable Peace.

Matilda Carlsson. (2016). Conflict-Related Sexual Violence--A Cross-National Comparison of Circumstances Related to State Forces ’ Use of Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict s. January 2016, 56. http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:897318/FULLTEXT01.pdf

Moghadam, V. M. (2002). Patriarchy, the Taleban, and politics of public space in Afghanistan. Women’s Studies International Forum, 25(1), 19–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-5395(02)00224-8

Mosse, J. C. (1993). Back matter - Half the World Half a Chance. Half the World, Half a Chance, 211–232. https://doi.org/10.3362/9780855987633.010

Nasimi, S. (2014). The devastating truth of women’s rights in Afghanistan. Open Democracy. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opensecurity/devastating-truth-of-womens-rights-in-afghanistan/

Network, A. A., & Kazemi, S. R. (2020). Covid-19 in {Afghanistan} (5): {Snapshots} of women’s living under coronavirus in and around {Herat} city. May.

Qazi Zada, S. (2021). Legislative, institutional and policy reforms to combat violence against women in Afghanistan. Indian Journal of International Law, 59(1–4), 257–283. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40901-020-00116-x

Samar, S. (2019). Feminism, Peace, and Afghanistan. Journal of International Affairs.

Stokes, S., Seritan, A. L., & Miller, E. (2016). Care Seeking Patterns Among Women Who Have Experienced Gender-Based Violence in Afghanistan. Violence Against Women, 22(7), 817–831. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801215616807

UN Women. (2020). COVID-19 and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. UN Women Headquarters, 10. https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/library/publications/2020/issue-brief-covid-19-and-ending-violence-against-women-and-girls-en.pdf?la=en&vs=5006

UNAMA & OHCHR. (2009). End the Abuse of Women in Afghanistan. July, 1–32. https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/vaw-english_1.pdf%0A

UNDP. (2020). Gender Based Violence and Covid-19. UNDP Brief, 6. https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/womens-empowerment/gender-based-violence-and-covid-19.html

Wylie, G. (2003). Women’s rights and ‘righteous war.’ 217–223.

Yoyo. (2018). Neo-patriarchy and the Problem of the Arab Crisis: A CritiCal study on Hisham Sharabi’s Works. Qudus International Journal of Islamic Studies, 6(2), 251–267. https://doi.org/10.21043/qijis.v6i2.3808




DOI: https://doi.org/10.18196/jiwp.v6i1.12695

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Journal JIWP Indexed by:

       

 

Office:

Journal of Islamic World and Politics, Magister Hubungan Internasional Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Jl. Brawijaya (Lingkar Selatan), Tamantirto, Kasihan, Bantul, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta. Whatsapp: +62823-2679-6566 Email: jiwp@umy.university

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) license.