1 in 3 women across the world are victims of physical or sexual violence. Almost 70% of them were assaulted by their partners or members of their family. And, the numbers are on the rise with the pandemic induced global lockdown facilitating domestic abuse. While the blue- black bruises can’t be missed, some of the invisible scars often leave an indelible mark on the victims. Research has also shown that women who have experienced physical or sexual abuse report higher rates of depression, and other adverse mental health issues. In this scenario, the trusted friends and family, who are involved need to watch their words and deal with their trauma sensitively.  

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

1. EDUCATE YOURSELF
2. Prepare yourself so that you don’t freeze when someone needs you to fight for them. Witnessing the abuse of a loved one isn’t something anyone is ready for. Given the unpredictable nature of violence, the only way you can brace yourself for such a situation is to educate yourself. Read articles, have conversations with friends and trusted acquaintances, and equip yourself with information on the key concepts around intervention. It is important to acknowledge your potential reactions and educate yourself on what to do in such situations, so that if the time comes you know what to do, how to do it, and where you can get help if needed.
3. BE VIGILANT
4. Sometimes abuse has markers which leave their trail much before it manifests. So, observe the continuum of behaviors and see if a matter is likely to escalate. Don’t wait for it to escalate to a point of no return. Intervene early enough to avoid greater harm. Watch for signs hidden in body language, verbal language, gestures and actions of both the potential victim and abuser.
5. INTERVENE AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES
6. Learn the five Ds of intervention: distract, disrupt, delay, delegate, and directly intervene:

• To distract is to draw the attention of the abuser and divert the focus away from the violent act so the survivor has time to get away.
• To disrupt is to break up the situation and diffuse the situation before it escalates - by asking the two people involved to stop or by telling them to walk separate ways - but to do this, one needs to be in some position of power- so that your actions hold sway over those involved.  
• To delay is to act as a buffer in the time between the occurrence of violence and the intervention. This entails supporting the survivor after the incident happens, by getting them medical help or standing by them till help arrives.  
• To delegate is to call on someone else to intervene: a police officer, a security guard, a service provider, a community worker, and so on.
• To directly intervene is to insert yourself in the situation and to take on the abuser or perpetrator.