12% women of 18-49 age group face sexual, physical assault in J&K: GoI

SRINAGAR: 12 per cent of women in Jammu and Kashmir of 18-49 years are either facing sexual or physical violence, reveals a survey conducted by the Government of India (GoI).

The official figures maintained by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare states that the region has witnessed 12 per cent of physical or sexual violence among women of 18-49 years of age.

“In JK, at least 10 per cent of women age 18-49 have experienced physical violence and three percent have experienced sexual violence and among all, at least 10 percent of women experienced physical or sexual violence and two percent experienced both physical and sexual violence,” it reads.

The report further suggests that for married women who experienced physical violence since age 15, “the most common perpetrator was the current husband.”

“Twelve percent of ever-married women of 18-49 years of age have experienced physical or sexual violence,” read the figures. Stating the status of violence during pregnancy, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has mentioned that at least one percent of women of 18-49 years of age who have been pregnant have experienced physical violence.

In case of different types of violence faced by the women by their spouses, the GoI has said that at least nine percent of married women of 18-49 years of age have experienced any form of physical violence committed by their husband, four percent have experienced any form of sexual violence committed by their husband, and eight percent have experienced any form of emotional violence committed by their husband.

“Five percent of married women report having been slapped by their husband while 3-4 percent report being pushed, shaken, or having something thrown at them or having their arm twisted or hair pulled, being kicked, dragged, or beaten up or being punched with a fist or something that could hurt her,” the figures reveal.

It also reveals that one percent of women of the same age group have experienced of being threatened or attacked with a knife, gun, or any other weapon—(KNO)