What is Domestic Violence: –
Domestic violence refers to violent behaviour between current or former intimate partners – typically where one partner tries to exert power and control over the other, usually through fear. It can include physical, sexual, emotional, social, verbal, spiritual and economic abuse.
Laws for the protection of women:-
The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956
The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (28 of 1961)
The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 (3 of 1988)
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (PREVENTION, PROHIBITION and REDRESSAL) Act, 2013
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 – New offenses that are punishable by law were introduced by the amendment as well. These include, but are not limited to:
- acid attacks
- stalking
- voyeurism
- publicly and forcefully disrobing a woman
Background of Domestic Violence:
Domestic violence or intimate partner violence (IPV) as it is sometimes called, is a worldwide problem.Domestic abuse includes physical, emotional and sexual violence of any form. In India, the PWDVA also includes economic abuse under the definition of domestic violence. A 1999 study examined the prevalence and characteristics of domestic abuse in five districts of northern India during 1995–1996. The study reported that in those five districts, lifetime prevalence of domestic abuse ranged from 18% to 45%.
According to a BBC report, in 2013, around 309,546 crimes were reported against women of which 118,866 were for domestic violence alone.
The constitution of India provides for adequate safeguard to protect the rights of women. The parliament enacted the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and this law came as a big relief to women suffering from domestic violence. Before this act there was no any particular act for domestic violence. As stated in the famous law maxim ubi jus ibdi remedium means where there is wrong there is a law. If law is not there nothing can be called as crime. So to punish the criminals such laws are very important.
Challenges faced by Women’s after Domestic Violence:
- Economic barriers to help-seeking
- Low awareness among women and girls of their rights
- Limited availability and coverage of safe shelter spaces
- Not a proper support system and knowledge about the procedure to file a case in court of law.
- Economically backward class women not having a proper financial support to pay the court fees.
Domestic violence against women is a reality and is being committed in every alternate house of India. The law has to be rightly supplemented by social awareness and economic incentives. Now a days many helpline numbers has been started by the government for the help of women’s suffering domestic violence. NGO’s too have important role to play in tackling the issues concerning domestic violence.
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