when a stellar performer like shabana azmi speaks the only job at hand is to listen with rapt attention an artiste for all seasons she has always lent her support to movements that promise social good and change for the better even as she celebrated her birthday today shuttling between work and personal commitments the actress spoke to bombay times about being a part of campaigns that aim to bring attention to domestic violence excerpts as someone who has been extremely forthcoming about supporting sociallyrelevant campaigns what was your driving force to be a part of this new campaign led by femina against domestic abuse how can one not be the current pandemic is a reminder that all is not okay especially violence against women its disheartening to see that even when pushed to the brink of crises we take out our frustrations at women and children i think its this crisis that has unleashed a new pandemic of domestic violence within homes with no way of escape women are losing jobs they are forced to livein with their abusers and i think this is the time to speak up about such things especially if its happening with someone close to you i think its our obligationstatistics state that complaints of domestic abuse have increased manifold in the world during the lockdown how do you think women and families can tackle this menace domestic violence is considered as an abusive expression triggered by financial stress mental stress fear and of course systemic patriarchy and lack of women agency that has furthered the cases of abuse it is in the mindset deeply entrenched in our social and cultural values which need to be addressed i think before placing the onus on victims of violence its important that each of us rethinks how we can make it safer for the women around us the biggest issue is the stigma that victims face in society they are often told they must have done something to deserve it what you can do is to be nonjudgemental and listen to someone who is experiencing intimate partner violence it is not a private matter and must not be treated as such talk to your children partners parents and make it ok to discuss such things openly no more shame no more blame no more excuses is the key messaging of commonwealths no more campaign i am honoured to be the only person from india who has participated in it along with many internationally respected women and menwhen we talk about domestic abuse we only see women as the sufferers do you think there are enough and more men who also face a lot of abuse at home but remain silent for their masculinity might be challengedunfortunately patriarchy hurts us all more women are victims because thats how power structures are established in our societywho earns in the house who has the decisionmaking powers and who believes they are more capable than the otherare all ideas we