Human Writes: When home is unsafe

Incest cases spiked in Malaysia during Covid-19-triggered movement restrictions. — Filepic/The Star

One thought has haunted me since lockdowns began this year: that abuse victims would be locked in with their abusers.

In one case in November 2020 in Malaysia, police detained a 16-year-old girl trying to leave Kuala Lumpur without a permit during the Covid-19-triggered movement control order period. Upon questioning her, they discovered the girl was trying to get to her mother in Kedah because her father – who gained custody of her a year ago – had been sexually abusing her for several months. The girl had also tried to kill herself.