Resumen
Domestic violence
Violence against women has become an important topic for
discussion in India in recent years. Politicians and media have
placed a great attention on the issue due to continuously increasing
trends of violence against women. Domestic violence (also named
as domestic abuse, family violence) is a pattern of behaviour. This
involves violence or abuse by one person against another in a domestic
setting [1]. According to a national family and health survey in 2005,
total lifetime prevalence of domestic violence was 33.55 and 8.5% for
sexual violence among women aged 15-49. 65% of Indian men believe
women should tolerate violence in order to keep the family together,
and women sometimes deserve to be beaten. Domestic violence can
take place in number of forms including physical, verbal, emotional,
economic, religious aspects. Domestic violence murders including
stoning, bride burning, Honor killings and dowry deaths. Globally, the
victims of Domestic violence are overwhelmingly women and women
tend to experience more severe forms of violence. The Protection of
women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 is an Act of parliament of
India enacted to protect women from Domestic Violence [2]. The act of
domestic violence towards women is a human rights violation as well as
an illegal act under Indian law. The Domestic Violence Act of 2005 has
been used to prosecute domestic violence cases, but activist?s state that
it discriminates against men. The Delhi high court clarified that the Act
could be used to prosecute women.
Our Indian constitution defines violence against women as any
act of gender-based violence that result in physical, sexual or mental
harm or suffering to women [3]. Domestic violence occurs daily in
homes throughout the world. The National Coalition against Domestic
violence reports that 1.3 million women are victims of domestic abuse
each year. The four causes of Domestic Violence to persist in India.
They are Male dominated society, Lack of Awareness of laws, Laxity in
implementation of existing Acts, Bureaucracy and Fear.