PETALING JAYA - Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive issue that can strike within marriages or among unmarried partners, affecting women and girls across all walks of life.

       According to a study published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on July 29, more than 27 per cent of women and girls aged between 15 and 49 who have had a partner have endured physical or sexual violence, or both, at the hands of an intimate partner at least once in their lifetime.

       Alarmingly, 13 per cent have faced this violence in the past year alone, underscoring the widespread and ongoing nature of this global concern.

       The study noted that among adolescent girls who have been in a relationship, nearly a quarter (24 per cent) – close to 19 million – would have experienced physical and/or sexual IPV by the time they turn 20.

       The study, published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal, also reported: “Intimate partner violence starts early in the life of women and girls – almost one in four adolescent girls aged between 15 and 19 who have been partnered have already been subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner at least once in their lives, and 16 per cent have had such experiences within the past year.”

       “This violence can have substantial and long-lasting effects on their physical and mental health, education, employment and future relationships,” it added.

       All Women’s Action Society (Awam) Capacity Building director Jayamalar Samuel reported that its media monitoring identified at least 61 cases of IPV in Malaysia between January and July 2024.

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       “The situation is explicitly dire; we are witnessing an alarming trend where more children are becoming both perpetrators and survivors of intimate partner violence.

       “This indicates that the cycle of violence is starting from a young age and such harmful behaviours are being internalised early on,” she said, citing a news report. Ms Jayamalar added that gender-based violence (GBV) and IPV cases are generally seen as a “family issue” that is usually not openly addressed.

       Therefore, she said a cultural shift is needed to deter such thinking to ensure that survivors are not afraid to seek support and justice that they need.

       In Malaysia, Ms Jayamalar said that several organisations provide welfare services, including counselling, legal information, financial aid and temporary shelters for IPV survivors.

       Awam also offers free legal information and counselling services through its Telenita Helpline.

       Ms Jayamalar urged women to trust their instincts if they feel unsafe or if they observe threatening, controlling, or violent behaviour from their partners.

       She emphasised the importance of taking these signs seriously and seeking help or confiding in someone they trust.

       “Although governmental services like the One Stop Crisis Centre are available to IPV survivors, particularly survivors of physical and sexual abuse, more can and must be done to ensure that unmarried IPV survivors have access to protection orders,” she added.

       Ms Jayamalar highlighted the need for legislative reforms to the Domestic Violence Act (DVA).

       “Although the DVA 1994 was amended in 2011 and 2017 to introduce new elements such as the immediate protection for survivors or victims of violence at home, domestic violence is still defined as violence perpetrated against a spouse, former spouse, child and members of the family,” she said.

       “It does not include unmarried intimate partners, though other laws can cover IPV, such as Penal Code Section 352 on assault and Section 507A on stalking,” she added.

       Association of Women Lawyers committee member Meera Samanther said IPV is a crime under the Penal Code.

       “So one has to lodge a police report and the state will take up your case once it’s decided that there is enough evidence to charge the perpetrator,” she said.

       However, she points out that the DVA is applicable only to married couples.

       “This is truly sad that our law does not extend to boyfriend or girlfriend relationships.”

       Ms Meera said the victim or the survivor will not be able to seek a protection order, such as applying for an interim injunction to stop the violence, as provided under the DVA.

       “In reality, there is no protection afforded to intimate partners. The Joint Action Group has been lobbying for years to extend protection to intimate partners under the DVA.

       “Many countries have done so. We cannot be living in a world where we have archaic laws,” she added. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK