DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
In Indian society, domestic violence against women is not an uncommon siting. With the passage of time, a plethora of women face it in their lives, and most of them are so accustomed to it that they don’t even end up reporting it, hence the cases are not decreasing but increasing day by day. Approximately 86% of women, who were victims of violence, never sought help, and 77% of the victims never told anybody about the incidents. An alarming spike in incidences of domestic violence in India has recently become a major source of concern during the shutdown era. Nonetheless, this evil has spread over the world and continues to develop. Yet, it can not be denied that many people continue to face domestic violence.
“Domestic violence” generally can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.
In fact, In the movie, ‘Thappad’ is all about a woman standing up against her husband who slapped her at a gathering. It is a prime example of what is to be done in case you become a victim of this horrendous activity.
As per the survey of National Family Health Survey-4, released by the Union Health Ministry, reported that every third woman in India, since the age of fifteen faces domestic violence of some form. It also reported that 31% of married women have faced physical, sexual, or emotional violence by their spouses. But Consequently, the major issue is that out of these hardly 10% actually reported this violence.
Therefore, to dealt with domestic violence and to make women realise about their rights and how they can protect their rights, The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 was introduced.
TYPES OF VIOLENCE
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 describes the violence of-
Physical abuse: Physical abuse is the most heard form of domestic violence. It occurs when physical force is used against the victim in a way that it injures him/her. And Use of physical force against a woman such that she suffers from bodily injury or hurt. Physical assault, criminal intimidation (threaten to cause hurt) and criminal force in the form of beating, kicking, punching, abandoning the aggrieved person in a dangerous place, making use of weapons to threaten her, forcing her to leave her matrimonial home, hurting her children, using physical force in sexual situations, etc.
Sexual abuse: Any situation in which people are forced to be involved in any unsafe or sexual activity without their will is sexual abuse. This is a form of physical force It includes calling her sexual names, and hurting her with objects and weapons during sex and includes forced sex even by a spouse or intimate partner with whom she has consensual sex. is an act of aggression and domestic violence.
Emotional Abuse: Apart from physical and sexual abuse, Many women face emotional abuse which is equally destructive and does not involve violence and physical hurt, but includes verbal abuse such as yelling name calling, blaming, isolating, intimidating, showcasing controlling behavior, insulting or continually criticizing her, etc.
Economic Abuse: Economic abuse is a way to control the victim through economic resources. Economic abuse mainly includes a woman not being provided with enough money by her partner to maintain herself and her children, the basic necessities, clothes, food, medicines, etc.
It also includes not allowing women to take up employment. Apart from this, forcing her out of the house where she lives by not providing her rent, depriving her of financial resources she is entitled to under any custom or law, and restricting her access to shared household also falls in this category. It also includes disposing or alienating her movable or immovable assets, valuables, shares, securities, and other properties in which she has an interest.