this blog is written by Jalal ud din haji 2nd year BB.A., LL.B. (Hons.) student from the School of Law, Lovely Professional University.
INTRODUCTION
Domestic violence is a violation of women’s human rights, any harm, injury, safety, life, limb or well-being or any other act or threatening or coercion, etc. By any adult member of the family, constitution domestic violence. Violence directed against women by their intimate partners is an epidemic of global proportion that has devastating physical, emotional, financial, and social effects on women’s children, families and communities around the world.
Recently acknowledged domestic violence as a human rights violation the right to life and to bodily and bodily integrity are core fundamental rights that are protected under international laws. Everyone has the right to life and the state has the obligation to protect it. If the authorities know somehow that someone’s life is at risk should take all the necessary actions to avoid that risk which includes both first response and structural assistance.
There are people who believe that Domestic violence is a serious threat to many women. One in three women worldwide experiences physical or sexual violence mostly by an intimate partner.
Domestic Violence as a Human Rights Issue?
Human rights are the basic and fundamental rights to which all humans are entitled by virtue of being born into the family. The fundamental rationale behind the concept of human rights is that each person is a moral and rational being who deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
Human Rights are based on equality – Human rights are supposed to negate gender inequality and discrimination.
But in the case of women, the reality is often divorced from the theoretical concept and Ideal perceptions. Women from one of the most vulnerable sections of society, and have been facing violence and discrimination since time immemorial.
Violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which has led to discrimination and domination against women by men.
EFFECTS ON VICTIM
Death, illness, injury and disability
Survivors of domestic violence frequently suffer from an array of psychosomatic illnesses, eating
disorders, insomnia, gastrointestinal disturbances, generalized chronic pain, and devastating mental
health problems like Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Violence can cause long-term as well as
short-term physical and mental health issues.
Long-term health problems include Asthma, Chronic pain, Heart problems, Migraine headaches etc.
To cope with these problems, some women start engaging in risky behaviours such as having
unprotected sex, and misusing alcohol or drugs. It also changes someone’s perception of their own body.
Short-term physical effects can include minor injuries that can also be detected by scans or x-rays.
Some of these injuries are bruises, cuts, injuries to organs etc.
EFFECTS ON CHILDREN
Studies show that more than 50% of female survivors have children in their care. Domestic violence
can cause emotional and physical harm to children in many ways, such as developing phobias or
insomnia, managing stress, trouble forming positive relationships with others and physical
symptoms such as headaches. Children need a secure environment for their nurturing.
The home where domestic violence exists might not be safe for them. Sometimes, children who
witness such abuse also become victims. These children are at great risk for long-term physical and
mental health issues. This can include mental health conditions, depression etc. This disturbance due
to the abuse also depends on the age factor.
HISTORICAL REFERENCE
In the early 1800s, most legal systems accepted wife-beating as a husband’s
right over his wife. Dated back to the 16thcentur, treated domestic violence a crime against the
community rather than against the individual women by charging wife beating as a breach of peace.
Wives had the right to seek redress in the form of a peace bond from a local justice of the peace.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINES AND COUNSELLING IN INDIA
• National Commission for Women Helpline
• Central Social Welfare Board -Police Helpline
• Shakti Shalini
• Shakti Shalini – women’s shelter
• SAARTHAK
• All India Women’s Conference
• JAGORI
• Joint Women’s Programme
• Sakshi – violence intervention centre
• Saheli – a women organization
• Nirmal Niketan
• Nari Raksha Samiti
CONCLUSION
Domestic Violence is one of the most horrendous kinds of abuse suffered women in our society today. It can happen to anyone one, it does not matter the race, creed, religion, or standing in the society of the victim. If the issue of Domestic Violence is not delt with in a manner, which is sufficient, then this type of abuse will continue among all classes of society with no ending. It also violates a women rights to a dignified life, her rights against torture and inhuman treatment, her rights against all forms of discrimination. Its widely treated as Human rights issue which violates basic right of women
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