Crime against women : Domestic violence

                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Abstract

The status of women was very high in ancient time. They were treated equal to men . But due to foreign invasion the positions of women declined sharply. Crime is an act that is in breach of law and that can lead a person to be tried in court of law. Crime against women includes female feticide, infanticide, gender discrimination, domestic violence, dowry deaths, child marriage and sexual offences. Social, economical , political  and religious factors are responsible for crime against women. Crime against women  direct or indirect, physical or mental is cruelty to women. When violence is committed at home it becomes domestic violence and involves family members. Life with a violent partner can have physical, social, emotional and psychological effects on women in both short and long term and reflected in lower self esteem, isolation, depression and suicidal tendencies. The children of abused mother often grow up to become abusers or abused. They experience fear, anxiety, withdrawal, low self esteem and poor performance in school. The ‘domestic’ word does not matter. Violence is violence. It is an issue that should be taken seriously. Need of the hour is to make women physically and mentally strong through education ,training, increasing the political participation, making stringent laws ,strong judiciary, employing more women in police force and above all our strong will power and changed mentality.

Introduction

Domestic violence is a pattern of  behaviour involving violence or abuse by one person against another by spouse or another family members. Globally main victims of it are women. It can be physical, verbal, emotional, economic, religious or sexual. It affects the whole family. It happens when the abusers think that abused person whether male or female will not react. Such type of events happen when the victim is either in isolation  or due to cultural acceptance, lack of financial support, fear, shame or for the sake of the safety of the children. This in turn results in depression, physical illness, mental problems and inability to create healthy relations. Families break. Children of such families face psychological problems.

Discussion

Domestic violence is a serious threat for many women. Domestic violence is also called intimate partner violence. It can happen in heterosexual or same sex relationships. Domestic violence can not be identified easily at first. It starts subtly and gets worse over time. It may take forms of calling bad names, preventing going out, meeting family members, control on spending money, accusing one of being unfaithful, threaten to use violence with weapon, physically hurting, blaming partner for his violent behavior.

Children who grow up in homes where domestic violence is a regular feature are likely to be abused and develop behavioural problems. When they become adult they also become abusive. It is better to break the cycle of domestic violence otherwise it will cost the sufferer physically and emotionally. In order to break domestic violence is to take action as soon as possible. Victims should start telling about the abuse to near ones so that needed support can come in time.

Domestic violence is the issue of  the whole world and affecting all socio –economic conditions, cultures, races and classes. The most common victims are women. Domestic violence has  serious impact on health and well-being of women. It establishes control and fear in a relationship through violence.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 says-

Any act or conduct omission or commission that harms or injures or has the potential  to harm or injure will be considered domestic violence by the law. Even a single act of omission or commission may constitute domestic violence.

In India the victims of domestic violence are mostly women but even in U.S.A. 85% of women experienced domestic violence by their intimate partners compared to 3% crimes experienced by men.

Domestic violence affects women whole life in the form of abortion of female fetus, dowry demands, beating, torturing etc. World Health Organisation reports 2005-06 shows that 15% to 71% women had ever experienced physical or sexual violence by their partners. In India 37.2% women experience violence after marriage. Domestic violence occurs because women are weak, economically dependent and easily exploitable.

The patriarchal society also empowers male to suppress women. Children  where mothers are victims of domestic violence start using drugs, become violent, commit crimes sometimes attempt suicides also.

Every day 4 women, 1 man and almost 5 children die as a result of domestic violence.1 in every 4 women experiences domestic violence in her lifetime. Incidence of abuse was found to be 32 of 1000 in persons over the age of 65. Every year domestic violence results in 100,000 days of hospitalization, 30,000 emergency department visits and almost 40,000 visits o physicians.

In 1983 domestic violence was recognized as a specific criminal offence by the introduction of Section 498-A into Indian Penal Code. This section deals with cruelty against women.

Suggestions-

Domestic violence is a big blemish on humanity.

The need of the hour is to check domestic violence.For this economic independence of women is the urgent need. Domestic violence is the violation of human rights. It is shameful for the society and the state that fail to check it. There should be stringent law to check it. One option is to get the woman’s husband to execute a “a bond to keep peace” or a ‘bond of good behavior” through Executive Magistrate who can order the husband to put a stop to domestic violence. The husband can also be asked to deposit securities I.e. money or property that will be fortified if he continues to act violently.

Although domestic violence changes have occurred overtime in the public’s perception, police intervention policie and court’s response to the crimes.

recommendations to  reduSome ce domestic violence are-

1.     To improve the status of women within  society

.

2.     Changing perception.

3.     Educating women.

4.     Economic empowerment of women.

5.     Easy access to law and order.

6.     Stigma related to violence.

7.     Moral support of the victims.

8.     Emergency management.

9.     Women Helpline and Child Helpline.

The life of a relationship can be filled with love, respect, mutuality, honesty and all the emotional components that make for a good partnership . when the partnership is no longer workable a couple may decide to split and agree to disagree amicably.

References-

1.     WHO, Multi country study on Women Health and Domestic violence against women, Geneva, WHO, 2007

2.     Available from http/Hyperlink ’http//www asianews Rising Domestic Violence last updated March15.