DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic Violence can be defined as violence or abuse that occurs in any domestic relationship where the victim is dominated upon. In addition to physical abuse, mental torture is also a part of domestic violence. Although men can also become victims of domestic abuse, women are typically the ones who suffer from it. Physical abuse is a better term to use than domestic violence. However, it can also be identified by abusive behaviour, verbal abuse, etc.
Basically, Indian women are victims of domestic abuse at the hands of their husbands and in-laws. Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1983 addresses a married woman’s protection from abuse by her husband or his family, including bodily and psychological injury. And subsequently, in order to shield women, children, and the elderly from violence, the Indian Parliament passed “The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.” According to this Act, there are four types of domestic violence: verbal, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Physical abuse includes any act that results in suffering, injury, or even death. Any sexual act that violates a woman’s rights and dignity, humiliates her, or otherwise mistreats her is considered sexual abuse. Verbal and emotional abuse includes insults, humiliations, threats of physical damage, and other similar behaviours. Economic abuse includes acts such as not providing financial assistance to the women and children, restricting her from practicing her career, depriving her of financial support, etc.
The victim of domestic violence suffers severe consequences. The physical effects of domestic abuse include physical harm, problems with reproduction and sexuality, cuts, bruises, wounds all over the body, bone fractures, and more. More severe mental effects include stress, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, wrath, terror, horrific nightmares, PTSD, and so on. Children in the home suffer greatly when there is domestic abuse. Children who witness toxic behaviour in their home, which serves as a safe place for them experience fear, anxiety, bad manners, and other problems, they experience childhood trauma, which makes it challenging for them to cope with day-to-day issues when they grow into adults.
Women and children are frequently discovered to be the main victims of domestic abuse. One horrible crime that also results in death is domestic abuse. Illiteracy, reliance on a male spouse, dowries, gender inequity, the presence of a male-dominated society, and other factors are among the primary causes of domestic violence.
Men are viewed as the leader of the family and the ones who make decisions, which gives them tremendous control and domination over all decisions. This authority gives them the impression that his spouse must follow his instructions in order to survive and work; if she doesn’t, he will exert dominance over her. This is one reason why domestic violence is so common in a culture where men predominate. A significant contributing factor is illiteracy, as individuals with little educational attainment and a traditional mindset maintain that women belong under males and view girls as a burden on society. They practice gender discrimination and always prefer to have a male than a girl born. Particularly in rural regions, it is seen that if a woman gives birth to a girl child, her family members kills the child committing infanticide. Even if the kid is allowed to survive they are deprived of parental love, care, access to an education, decent clothing, nutritious food, and other necessities. Additionally, a lady who frequently gives birth to a girl kid endures terrible abuse at home. The dowry system contributes to domestic abuse against women. When their hefty dowry expectations are not met, in-laws and even husbands would abuse the bride. This is why India has a high dowry death rate.
It is necessary to educate people about the negative effects of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse victims should report this to higher-ups in the legal system, such as police officers and attorneys, and request assistance from them. They would undoubtedly assist them in bringing a complaint against the defendant. They could receive an Order Of Protection(OOP) if the matter is taken to court, if the judge deems it appropriate. They would be protected by this order from their spouse, parents, siblings, relatives, in-laws and any other person the complaint may be living with.
Author: Rittika Paul, a student at Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College