TAMIL NADU

NATIONAL LAW SCHOOL

B.A.LL.B., (HONS.), THIRD SEMESTER

2015-16

ECONOMICS PROJECT
ON
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

PROJECT BY:-
R.DINESH KUMAR
BA0140015
SECTION-A

SUBMITTED TO:-
Prof. MURUGESAN PERUMAL
 DECLARATION OF AUTHORSHIP

I, R.DINESH KUMAR, hereby declare that the project work titled DOMESTIC

VIOLECE, submitted to Tamil Nadu National Law School, Tiruchirappalli, is the record of

a bonafide work done by me under the supervision and guidance of Prof. Murugesan

Perumal, Faculty for Economics, Tamil Nadu National Law School, Tiruchirappalli. All

information furnished in the project is true to the best of my knowledge devoid of plagiarism.
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project entitled DOMESTIC VIOLECE

submitted to Tamil Nadu National law school in partial fulfilment of requirement

of award of degree of under graduate in Law done by R.DINESH KUMAR under

the supervision and guidance of Professor Murugesan Perumal, Department of

Economics, Tamil Nadu National Law School.

Prof. Murugesan Perumal( )

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all, I thank my Economics Professor Mr. Murugesan Perumal for having allotted me
such a challenging and dynamic topic. Even repaying him through mere words in beyond the
domain of my lexicon that was the backbone during all hurdles that I confronted during the
making of this project, hence I am forever duly indebted to him as a student.

Also, I am grateful to the staff and administration of Tamil Nadu National Law School who
contributed useful resources tremendously in the making of this project by providing library
infrastructure and data connections.

This entire project wouldnt have been possible without the involvement of precious inputs
of my parents and friends who sacrificed their valuable time to guide and advise me at all
times of need to make this project a successful one.

Last but not the least, I am also grateful to God for giving me the courage and strength to
withstand all hindrances during this project and make it successfully finally since its
inception.
Introduction

Domestic violence (also domestic abuse, spousal abuse, intimate partner violence, battering
or family violence) is a pattern of behavior which involves violence or other abuse by one
person against another in a domestic setting, such as in marriage or cohabitation. Intimate
partner violence is violence by a spouse or partner in an intimate relationship against the
other spouse or partner. Domestic violence can take place in heterosexual or same-sex
relationships, and sometimes also involves violence against the children in the family.
Domestic violence can take a number of forms including physical, verbal, emotional,
economic and sexual abuse, which can range from subtle, coercive forms to marital rape and
to violent physical abuse that results in disfigurement or death. Domestic murders include
honor killings and dowry deaths.

Globally, a wife or female partner is more commonly the victim of domestic violence,
although the victim can also be the male partner, or both partners may engage in abusive or
violent behavior, or the victim may act in self-defense or retaliation. Whereas women who
experience domestic violence, at least in the developed world, are often openly encouraged
to report it to the authorities, it has been argued that domestic violence against men is most
often unreported because of social norms and pressure against such reporting; those that do
often face social stigma regarding their perceived lack of machismo and other denigrations of
their masculinity.

Domestic violence often occurs when the abuser believes that abuse is acceptable, justified,
or unlikely to be reported. It may produce intergenerational cycles of abuse in children and
other family members, who may feel that such violence is acceptable or condoned.
Awareness, perception, definition and documentation of domestic violence differs widely
from country to country. In abusive relationships, there may be a cycle of abuse during which
tensions rise and an act of violence is committed, followed by a period of reconciliation and
calm. Victims of domestic violence may be trapped in domestic violent situations through
isolation, power and control, cultural acceptance, lack of financial resources, fear, shame or
to protect children. As a result of abuse, victims may experience physical disabilities, chronic
health problems, mental illness, limited finances, and poor ability to create healthy
relationships. Victims may experience psychological problems, such as post-traumatic stress
disorder. Children who live in a household with violence often show psychological problems
from an early age, such as deregulated aggression which may later contribute to continuing
the legacy of abuse when they reach adulthood. Domestic violence often happens in the
context of forced or child marriage.

Definition:

"Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical,

sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or
family members, regardless of gender or sexuality."

Intimate partner violence:

The term intimate partner violence (IPV) is often used synonymously with domestic abuse or
domestic violence,[5] but it usually refers to abuse occurring within a couple relation
(marriage, cohabitation, though they do not have to live together for it to be considered
domestic abuse).

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines intimate partner violence as:

"... any behaviour within an intimate relationship that causes physical, psychological or
sexual harm to those in the relationship".

To these forms of abuse, the WHO adds controlling behaviours as a form of abuse. Intimate
partner violence has been observed in heterosexual and same-sex relationships, and in the
former instance by men against women and by women against men.

Domestic violence:

Traditionally, domestic violence (DV) was mostly associated with physical violence. For
instance, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition, domestic violence is: "the
inflicting of physical injury by one family or household member on another; also: a
repeated / habitual pattern of such behaviour." Domestic violence is now more broadly
defined, often but not always including "all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or
economic violence" that may be committed by a person who is a family member or a person
that has been an intimate partner or spouse, irrespective of whether they lived together.

In 1993, The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women
identified domestic violence as one of three contexts in which violence against women
occurs, describing it as:

"Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering,
sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape,
female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal
violence and violence related to exploitation".

Family violence:

Family violence is a broader term, often used to include child abuse, elder abuse, and other
violent acts between family members.

Child abuse is defined by the WHO as:

"Child maltreatment, sometimes referred to as child abuse and neglect, includes all forms of
physical and emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation that results in
actual or potential harm to the childs health, development or dignity. Within this broad
definition, five subtypes can be distinguished physical abuse; sexual abuse; neglect and
negligent treatment; emotional abuse; and exploitation."

Elder abuse is, according to the WHO:

"A single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship
where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person".

History:

Prior to the mid-1800s, most legal systems viewed wife beating as a valid exercise of a
husband's authority over his wife. One exception, however, was the 1641 Body of Liberties
of the Massachusetts Bay colonists, which declared that a married woman should be "free
from bodily correction or stripes by her husband."

Political agitation during the 19th century led to changes in both popular opinion and
legislation regarding domestic violence within the United Kingdom, the United States and
other countries. In 1850, Tennessee became the first state in the United States to explicitly
outlaw wife beating. Other states soon followed. In 1878, the UK Matrimonial Causes Act
made it possible for women in the UK to seek legal separation from an abusive husband. By
the end of the 1870s, most courts in the United States had rejected a claimed right of
husbands to physically discipline their wives. By the early 20th century, it was common for
police to intervene in cases of domestic violence in the United States, but arrests remained
rare.

Attention to domestic violence began to be drawn in the 1970s by the women's movement,
particularly within the contexts of feminism and women's rights. The first known use of the
expression "domestic violence" in a modern context, meaning "spouse abuse, violence in the
home" was in an address to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1973. A few months
later the world's first domestic violence services federation (Women's Aid) was set up to
provide practical and emotional support as part of a range of services to women and children
experiencing violence in England. Studies in the 1990s showed that men may also be victims
of domestic violence.

In most legal systems around the world, the issue of DV has been addressed only from the
1990s onwards; indeed, before the late-20th century, in most countries there was very little
protection, in law or in practice, against DV. In 1993, the UN published Strategies for
Confronting Domestic Violence - A Resource Manual. This publication urged countries
around the world to treat DV as a criminal act, stated that the right to a private family life
does not include the right to abuse family members, and acknowledged that, at the time of its
writing, most legal systems considered DV to be largely outside the scope of the law,
describing the situation at that time as follows: "Physical discipline of children is allowed
and, indeed, encouraged in many legal systems and a large number of countries allow
moderate physical chastisement of a wife or, if they do not do so now, have done so within
the last 100 years. Again, most legal systems fail to criminalize circumstances where a wife
is forced to have sexual relations with her husband against her will. Indeed, in the case of
violence against wives, there is a widespread belief that women provoke, can tolerate or even
enjoy a certain level of violence from their spouses."

In recent decades there has been a call for the end of legal impunity for domestic violence, an
impunity often based on the idea that such acts are 'private'. The Istanbul Convention is the
first legally-binding instrument in Europe dealing with domestic violence and violence
against women. The convention seeks to put an end to the toleration, in law or in practice, of
VAW and DV. In its explanatory report it acknowledges the long tradition of European
countries of ignoring, de jure or de facto, these forms of violence. At para 219, it states:
"There are many examples from past practice in Council of Europe member states that show
that exceptions to the prosecution of such cases were made, either in law or in practice, if
victim and perpetrator were, for example, married to each other or had been in a relationship.
The most prominent example is rape within marriage, which for a long time had not been
recognized as rape because of the relationship between victim and perpetrator."

There has been increased attention given to specific forms of domestic violence, such as
honour killings, dowry deaths, and forced marriages. India has, in recent decades, made
efforts to curtail dowry violence: the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act
(PWDVA) was enacted in 2005, following years of advocacy and activism by the women's
organizations. Crimes of passion in Latin America, a region which has a history of treating
such killings in an extremely lenient way, have also come to international attention. In 2002,
Widney Brown, advocacy director for Human Rights Watch, argued that there are similarities
between the dynamics of crimes of passion and honour killings, stating that: "crimes of
passion have a similar dynamic [to honour killings] in that the women are killed by male
family members and the crimes are perceived as excusable or understandable".

Until quite recently, children had very few rights in regard to protection from violence by
their parents, and still continue to do so in many parts of the world. Historically, fathers had
virtually unlimited rights in regard to their children and how they chose to discipline them. In
many cultures, such as in Ancient Rome, a father could legally kill his children; many
cultures have also allowed fathers to sell their children into slavery. Child sacrifice was also a
common practice. Today, corporal punishment of children by their parents remains legal in
most countries, but in Western countries that still allow the practice there are strict limits on
what is permitted. The first country to outlaw parental corporal punishment was Sweden
(parents' right to spank their own children was first removed in 1966, and it was explicitly
prohibited by law from July 1979. As of 2015, parental corporal punishment is banned in 46
countries.

Types of Domestic Violations:

Abusers or perpetrators use a wide variety of abusive tactics. There are five general
categories of abusive tactics:

Physical Abuse

Sexual Abuse

Emotional Abuse

Financial Abuse

Identity Abuse

The categories of abuse are defined below and examples of each are given. The categories
are not exclusive. Some abusive tactics may fit into more than one category. A threat of
physical harm, for example, could be seen as emotional abuse and as physical abuse. The
categories are just a handy way to think about abuse.

Physical Abuse:

Physical violence is partner abuse when it is intended to enhance the power and control of
the abuser over the partner. If the partner is fearful of the abuser, if the partner modifies his
behavior in response to the assault or potential assault, or if the partner intentionally
maintains a particular routine of behaviors in an effort to avoid violence despite his
preference not to do so then this is partner abuse.

Physical abuse can be defined as the threat of harm or any forceful physical behavior that
intentionally or accidentally causes bodily harm or property destruction, including the
following:

Hitting, beating, choking, pushing, slapping, kicking, pulling hair, biting, punching,
backhanding, arm twisting, shoving, kicking or burning

Holding the partner down or preventing the partner from leaving

Throwing and/or threatening with objects

Locking the partner out of the home

Refusal to get the partner help or medical attention

Forced use of substances (e.g. alcohol and drugs

Depriving the partner of medication

Denying or interfering with the partner meeting his basic physical needs (e.g. eating
and sleeping)

Smashing, damaging, stealing or selling the partners possessions

Threatening to use or the use of a weapon against the partner (e.g. hammer, knife,
gun, etc.)

Driving recklessly

Punching walls or doors

Stalking
Physical abuse also can be used against children and pets, as well as the partners friends
and family.

Sexual Abuse:

Sexual abuse is any forced or coerced sexual act or behavior motivated to acquire power and
control over the partner. It is not only forced sexual contact but also contact that demeans or
humiliates the partner and instigates feelings of shame or vulnerability particularly in
regards to the body, sexual performance or sexuality.

Common examples are:

Unwanted touching

Demeaning remarks about the partners body or appearance

Minimization of the partners sexual needs

Berating the partner about his sexual history

Demeaning remarks about the partner being too femme or butch

Forcing sex or sexual actions on the partner without consent

Using force or roughness that is not consensual, including forced sex (rape)

Rape with an object

Refusing to comply with the partners request for safe sex

Coercing the partner into sex with others

Purposefully and repeatedly crossing the partners sexual boundaries

Violating an agreement for monogamy by having sex with others

Exposing the partner to sexually transmitted diseases

 Treating the partner as a sex object

Criticizing sexual performance or desirability

Withholding sex as a punishment

Unwanted sadistic sexual acts

Some forms of sexual abuse are crimes.

Emotional/Psychological Abuse:

Emotional abuse is any use of words, voice, action or lack of action meant to control, hurt or
demean another person. Emotional abuse typically includes ridicule, intimidation or
coercion. Verbal abuse usually is included in this category. This type of abuse is more
difficult to define and to identify than physical abuse. At some time in their relationship
almost all couples say or even shout things they later regret. Emotional abuse, however, is
repeated hurtful exchanges with disregard for the partners feelings aimed at gaining power
and/or exerting control over the partner. For example, telling the partner over and over again
that no one else would have you or repeatedly calling the partner stupid or worthless.

Emotional abuse is present in almost all relationships where physical abuse occurs, and it can
have serious and long-term consequences for the partner eroding self-esteem and
confidence, as well as instilling feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

Behaviors include:

Verbal threats

Demeaning the partner in front of friends, family or strangers

Name-calling and use of abusive language

Constant criticism or humiliation

Disproportionate anger or yelling to intimidate

 Irrational blaming of the partner

Withholding affection, approval or appreciation as a punishment

Obsessive jealousy and accusations of unfaithfulness

Instilling in the partner the belief that nothing he does will ever be good enough

Use of intimate knowledge (e.g. the partner has herpes) to generate vulnerability

Abusing or threatening to abuse the partners children is included here when the
intent is to emotionally harm the partner through the children

Abusing or threatening to abuse pets is included here, again when the intent is to
emotionally harm the partner through the pets

Being irresponsible with money

Using insults, sarcasm or sneering

Laughing at the partner

The abuser harming or threatening to harm himself/herself

A special form of emotional abuse is called crazy making; examples of this

technique are:

Lying in order to confuse

Blaming the partner for the abuse

Telling tales and false stories or playing mind games

Telling the partner he doesnt know what he is talking about

Manipulating the partner with words, ideas or lies

Denying that statements or promises were made or that behaviours occurred, and
telling the partner its all in his mind
A frequent condition of abuse is seeking to socially isolate the partner. The abuser cuts off
their partner from contact with other people, such as family, friends and children, by creating
a social deprivation that leads the partner to be more reliant, or dependent, on the abuser.
Social isolation also prevents the partner from seeking support from others or successfully
leaving the relationship. Behaviors commonly used to impose social isolation include:

Blaming the partners friends or family for the couples relationship problems

Monitoring phone calls, mail or visits

Demanding an account of the partners daily activities

Insulting, threatening or assaulting the partners friends or family; driving them away

Forcing the partner to choose between the relationship and loved ones

Creating public scenes or disturbances when the partner is out with others

Stalking the partner and other forms of surveillance

Financial Abuse:

Financial abuse is the use or misuse, without the partners freely given consent, of the
financial or other monetary resources of the partner or of the partnership.

Common examples of financial abuse include:

Forbidding the partner to work

Jeopardizing the partners employment by such tactics as excessive calls to work;

creating conflict with co-workers, supervisor or clients; creating scenes with co-
workers; forcing the partner to miss work through threats, injuries or coerced substance
use

Refusing to work, yet contributing to expenses

 Controlling shared resources, including bank accounts and common property

Demanding the partner sign over pay checks or denying access to liquid assets, like
mutual funds

Demanding the partner account for all the money he spends

Coercing the partner to pay for all expenses, including rent, food and utilities

Stealing the partners property, such as valuables or assets

Destroying or threatening to destroy the partners property as a means of affecting his

financial situation

Using the partners identity to charge expenditures to partner

Taking credit cards, money or check book

Forging the partners signature on financial documents

Identity Abuse:

Identity abuse is using personal characteristics to demean, manipulate and control the
partner. Some of these tactics overlap with other forms of abuse, particularly emotional
abuse. This category is comprised of the social isms, including racism, sexism, ageism,
able-ism, beauty-ism, as well as homophobia

Examples are:

Outing or threatening to out the partner to such people as family, boss, or neighbours

Using the partners own homophobia to demean him or make him fearful

Asserting that the partner will never have another relationship because he is too ugly
or too old
 Blaming the abuse on the partners identity (gay, bisexuality, transgender) or
behaviour (non-monogamy, wish to practice or not practice S&M, etc.) or justifying
the abuse based on any of these factors.

Using racial epithets and negative stereotypes

Exploiting the partners internalized racism

Accusing the partner of being racist

Ridiculing the partners physical challenges or exploiting them

Ridiculing the partners gender identity: appearance, dress, voice quality, grooming,
etc.

Threatening to out partner as Transgender

Cause of domestic violence:

Abusers choose to behave violently to get what they want and gain control. Their behaviour
often originates from a sense of entitlement which is often supported by sexist, racist,
homophobic and other discriminatory attitudes.

Domestic violence against women by men is 'caused' by the misuse of power and control
within a context of male privilege. Male privilege operates on an individual and societal level
to maintain a situation of male dominance, where men have power over women and children.
Perpetrators of domestic violence choose to behave abusively to get what they want and gain
control. Their behaviour often originates from a sense of entitlement which is often
supported by sexist, racist, homophobic and other discriminatory attitudes. In this way,
domestic violence by men against women can be seen as a consequence of the inequalities
between men and women, rooted in patriarchal traditions that encourage men to believe they
are entitled to power and control over their partners.

Should all domestic violence be seen in the context of power relations?

No, not all domestic violence occurs within a context of traditional power relations.
Ultimately, responsibility for the violence must lie with the perpetrator of that violence,
despite any societal influences that we may draw on in order to understand the context of the
behaviour.

Is domestic violence a consequence of things such as stress?

Domestic violence is learned intentional behaviour rather than the consequence of stress,
individual pathology, substance use or a 'dysfunctional' relationship. Perpetrators of domestic
violence frequently avoid taking responsibility for their behaviour, by blaming their violence
on someone or something else, denying it took place at all or minimizing their behaviour.

Whilst responsibility for the actual violence is the perpetrator's alone, there are belief
systems in our society that perpetuate abusive attitudes and make it difficult for women and
children to get help. These include:

- Blaming the victim for the violence

- Putting the 'family' before the safety of women and children

- Tolerating the use of violence

- Privileging men over women and children's needs

- Treating domestic violence as a private matter

Research shows that violent men are most likely to perpetrate violence in response to their
own sexual jealousy and possessiveness; their demands for domestic services; and in order to
demonstrate male authority. Some men also believe that sex is another type of domestic
service that they can demand. Violent men will also typically justify or ignore their
behaviour by:

- Minimizing the violence e.g., saying it was "just a slap" or "isn't that bad".

- Justifying the behaviour to themselves and blaming the victim.

- Denying the violence happened or refusing to talk about it and expecting the victim to just
"move on". (Dobash & Dobash, 2000).

Can alcohol or drugs cause domestic violence?

The use (or misuse) of substance is not the underlying cause of domestic violence. Many
people who drink too much or take drugs don't abuse their partners or family members.
Likewise, abusers may be violent without the use of alcohol or other drugs.

Abusers who use alcohol or drugs may use this as an excuse for their behaviour saying "I
was drunk" or "I don't remember". Even if they genuinely don't remember what they did, it
doesn't remove responsibility for their behaviour. The causes of domestic violence are far
more deep rooted than simply being an effect of intoxication or alcohol/drug dependency.

If an abuser is alcohol/drug dependent, it is important that this is treated in tandem with

addressing the violent behaviour. Addressing only one without the other is unlikely to prove
successful.

Women experiencing domestic violence may also turn to alcohol or drugs as a form of
escape from the violence. Sometimes abusers will use their partner's addiction as an excuse
for violent behaviour, saying they have been provoked into using violence. Excuses such as
these are used by the perpetrator to deflect responsibility from themselves and put the blame
for the violence onto the victim. In these situations it is vitally important not only for women
to receive the support they need, but also for perpetrators to be held accountable for their
actions. They should never be excused on account of the woman's alleged behaviour.

A study of 336 convicted offenders of domestic violence, found that alcohol was a feature in
62% of offences and 48% of offenders were alcohol dependent (Gilchrist et al, 2003).

One study of 60 women using crack cocaine in London found that 40% reported regular
physical assaults from current partner rising to 70% if past partners were included. (Bury
et al, 1999).
Is domestic violence caused by a lack of control?

Domestic violence is about gaining control, not a lack of control. If an abuser is careful about
when, where and to whom they are abusive, then they are showing sufficient awareness and
knowledge about their actions to indicate they are not 'out of control'. Abusers use violence
and tactics of coercion as a way of exercising control and getting what they want.

Can domestic violence be caused by mental illness?

The vast majority of people with mental health problems do not abuse other people.
However, there are a small number of people who are in mental distress who may behave
abusively, though this may not be caused by the mental health problem itself.

If an abuser is careful about when, where and to whom they are abusive then they are
showing sufficient awareness and knowledge about their actions to indicate they are making
choices about their behaviour.

If an abuser is random and unpredictable, being abusive to strangers as well as people they
know (eg in public and in the workplace), then mental illness may be a possibility. Even if
this is the case, it still doesn't mean anyone must put up with abusive behaviour. In these
situations, it is important that the safety of survivors is prioritized and that the person
experiencing mental distress obtains the professional care they need.
The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children

How many children witness the abuse of their mothers?

Studies show that 3-4 million children between the ages of 3-17 are at risk of exposure to
domestic violence each year. U.S. government statistics say that 95% of domestic violence
cases involve women victims of male partners. The children of these women often witness
the domestic violence.

Witnessing can mean SEEING actual incidents of physical/and or sexual abuse. It can mean
HEARING threats or fighting noises from another room. Children may also OBSERVE the
aftermath of physical abuse such as blood, bruises, tears, torn clothing, and broken items.
Finally children may be AWARE of the tension in the home such as their mothers
fearfulness when the abusers car pulls into the driveway.

What are the feelings of children who are exposed to battering?

Children who are exposed to battering become fearful and anxious. They are always on
guard, watching and waiting for the next event to occur. They never know what will trigger
the abuse, and therefore, they never feel safe. They are always worried for themselves, their
mother, and their siblings. They may feel worthless and powerless.

Children who grow up with abuse are expected to keep the family secret, sometimes not even
talking to each other about the abuse. Children from abusive homes can look fine to the
outside world, but inside they are in terrible pain. Their families are chaotic and crazy. They
may blame themselves for the abuse thinking if they had not done or said a particular thing,
the abuse would not have occurred. They may also become angry at their siblings or their
mother for triggering the abuse. They may feel rage, embarrassment, and humiliation.

Children of abuse feel isolated and vulnerable. They are starved for attention, affection and
approval. Because mom is struggling to survive, she is often not present for her children.
Because dad is so consumed with controlling everyone, he also is not present for his
children. These children become physically, emotionally and psychologically abandoned.

What behaviours do children who witness domestic violence exhibit?

The emotional responses of children who witness domestic violence may include fear, guilt,
shame, sleep disturbances, sadness, depression, and anger (at both the abuser for the violence
and at the mother for being unable to prevent the violence).

Physical responses may include stomach-aches and/or headaches, bedwetting, and loss of
ability to concentrate. Some children may also experience physical or sexual abuse or
neglect. Others may be injured while trying to intervene on behalf of their mother or a
sibling.

The behavioural responses of children who witness domestic violence may include acting
out, withdrawal, or anxiousness to please. The children may exhibit signs of anxiety and
have a short attention span which may result in poor school performance and attendance.
They may experience developmental delays in speech, motor or cognitive skills. They may
also use violence to express themselves displaying increased aggression with peers or
mother. They can become self-injuring.

What are the long-term effects on children who witness domestic violence?

Whether or not children are physically abused, they often suffer emotional and psychological
trauma from living in homes where their fathers abuse their mothers. Children whose
mothers are abused are denied the kind of home life that fosters healthy development.
Children who grow up observing their mothers being abused, especially by their fathers,
grow up with a role model of intimate relationships in which one person uses intimidation
and violence over the other person to get their way. Because children have a natural tendency
to identify with strength, they may ally themselves with the abuser and lose respect for their
seemingly helpless mother. Abusers typically play into this by putting the mother down in
front of her children and telling them that their mother is crazy or stupid and that they do
not have to listen to her. Seeing their mothers treated with enormous disrespect, teaches
children that they can disrespect women the way their fathers do.

Most experts believe that children who are raised in abusive homes learn that violence is an
effective way to resolve conflicts and problems. They may replicate the violence they
witnessed as children in their teen and adult relationships and parenting experiences. Boys
who witness their mothers abuse are more likely to batter their female partners as adults than
boys raised in nonviolent homes. For girls, adolescence may result in the belief that threats
and violence are the norm in relationships.

Children from violent homes have higher risks of alcohol/drug abuse, post-traumatic stress
disorder, and juvenile delinquency. Witnessing domestic violence is the single best predictor
of juvenile delinquency and adult criminality. It is also the number one reason children run
away.

Effects of domestic abuse on women:

Women may be affected in a number of ways. They may experience any or all of the
following:

Loss of opportunity; isolation from family/friends; loss of income or work; homelessness;

emotional/psychological effects such as experiences of anxiety, depression or lowered sense
of self-worth; poor health; physical injury or ongoing impairment; if they are pregnant they
may miscarry or the baby may be stillborn; time off work or study, and long-term impact on
financial security and career; death (two women a week are killed by their partners or former
partners).

Homelessness:

Research on homelessness for Shelter found that domestic violence is "the single most
quoted reason for becoming homeless". This study found that 40% of all homeless women
stated domestic violence as contributor to their homelessness (Cramer and Carter, 2002).

Injuries:

"Injuries were often sustained as a result of domestic violence, especially among women.
During the worst incident of domestic violence experienced in the last year, 46 per cent of
women sustained a minor physical injury, 20 per cent a moderate physical injury, and six per
cent severe injuries, while for 31 per cent it resulted in mental or emotional problems. ".
(Findings from self-completion module of the 2001 British Crime survey, Walby & Allen,
2004)

Employment:

"Domestic violence has a detrimental impact on employment. Among employed women who
suffered domestic violence in the last year, 21 per cent took time off work and two per cent
lost their jobs".

(Findings from self-completion module of the 2001 British Crime survey, Walby & Allen,
2004)

Health:

Violence against women has serious consequences for their physical and mental health. Abused
women are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, psychosomatic systems, eating
problems and sexual dysfunction. Violence may also affect their reproductive health (World
Health Organisation, 2000).

Homicide:

46% of all female homicide victims compared with 5% of male homicide victims, were killed by
current or former partners in 2001/02. In total there were 116 women who were killed by current
or former partners in 2001/02, and the figures have been similar in subsequent years. This
equates to an average of over 2 women each week who are killed by a current or former partner
(Flood-Page et al, 2003). Women are at greatest risk of homicide at the point of separation or
after leaving a violent partner (Lees, 2000)

Impact on TEENS:

Being a teenager is difficult, as most of us remember. But being a teenager and living in a
house infected with domestic violence can have devastating, life-long effects. Teens living
with domestic violence face the unique problem of trying to fit in with their peers while
keeping their home life a secret. Teens in shelters often face the problem of having to move
and begin school in a new place, having to make new friends while feeling the shame of
living in a shelter. Needless to say, their family relationships can be strained to the breaking
point. The result can be teens who never learn to form trusting, lasting relationships, or teens
who end up in violent relationships themselves.

In addition, teens face the same issues as younger children in an abusive family, namely
feeling lonely and isolated, growing up too fast, behavior problems, stress related medical
and mental health problems, and school problems. Teenagers are also faced with entering
into the dating world for the first time. They are formulating their own theories about
relationships, and some may not have the best models on which to base a healthy
relationship. They have witnessed the cycle of violence with the abuse, apologies from the
perpetrator, tensions building and more abuse. Unfortunately, some teenagers may be faced
with a higher risk of being victims of dating violence and as mentioned earlier, ending up in
violent relationships as adults either as victims or abusers.

16 Ways to prevent Domestic Violence:

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #1: Know the signs. The first step to action is to
familiarise individuals and the community with the possible signs and indicators of domestic
violence. These signs can vary and do not always come with physical symptoms because
domestic violence is not just limited to physical attacks such as beatings. It includes many
forms of abusive behaviour enacted to control the victim in a myriad of ways including
emotional abuse, verbal abuse and economic abuse. Domestic violence also affects every
level and demographic in society, so there is no typical victim despite the stereotypes.
Someone who may not appear to be a victim of domestic violence may well be suffering in
silence and it is important to recognise the signs if this is the case.

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #2: Get your community educated! A good start to
eradicating Domestic Violence from your community or neighbourhood is to start educating
as many people as possible about Domestic Violence, its impact and how to intervene safely.
This can be done in collaboration with your local Domestic Violence shelter or womens
organisation or police community outreach officers who can work with the community, local
schools and local companies to organise and implement talks, town hall meetings and other
group sessions to talk about this issue.

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #3: Get your community organised! There is safety and
influence in numbers when intervening to stop an abuser or making your community a place
where Domestic Violence will not be tolerated. So just as many neighbourhoods have
neighbourhood watch to stop crime, start organising a network of folks who will commit to
intervene in Domestic Violence situations, help victims leave their abusers safely and
provide a communal support structure for survivors.

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #4: Boost your community support network with
technology! If you have a smart phone and the victim has a smart phone, consider
downloading a safety app for women, many of which have been designed to automatically
alert your support network if you are in danger. If the victim does not have a smart phone,
consider pooling money with a few friends and neighbours to get her one and pre-load it with
a safety app that is connected to all your phones so you can become a de facto support net for
her. Free safety apps currently available include the award-winning Circle of 6 and the
iAMDEFENDER app which you can download here.

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #5: Stopping the violence is good for business.
Domestic Violence has cost economies and companies millions of dollars in lost time,
medical care, productivity etc. In the U.S., the cost of Domestic Violence to the economy is
estimated at $8.3 billion a year. If you are a business owner or a senior member of a company
(e.g. a director, board member, senior manager), be pro-active in getting educated about how
to intervene if you suspect or know that your employee or staff member is facing Domestic
Violence because it will have a knock-on effect on your company. Implement HR policies
that makes provisions for the potential impact of Domestic Violence. For example, the
National Bank of Australia is currently offering paid Domestic Violence leave because the
economic freedom from remaining in paid work is regarded as vital in helping victims
escape violent relationships.

For Individuals

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #6: Ring the bell. If you are the neighbour of a family
experiencing Domestic Violence, please take the time to ring their bell when you hear a
violent situation happening. You could use the old neighbourly approach of asking to borrow
a cup of sugar or some milk as an excuse. If you feel that it could get dangerous, bring
another person with you so there will be more than one witness. Check out what this guy did
in a PSA by our partner, Bell Bajao:

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #7: Bring a back-up. Intervening with Domestic
Violence situations can be dangerous especially if the abuser has a weapon (e.g. a gun) and is
intoxicated by drink or drugs. If you are unable to get help from the local shelter or police,
make sure to bring another friend or family member along with you when you respond to the
victim/survivors call in person.
Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #8: BE the back-up. If your neighbour, friend, co-
worker, classmate, mother, sister, daughter, daughter-in-law, niece or cousin is facing
Domestic Violence at home, let them know that you will be willing to be a witness or to
intervene on their behalf while you are around. Also let them know that they are welcome to
take refuge in your home should they need somewhere to go.

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #9: Make the call, NOW. If the situation is beyond
simple neighborly intervention (e.g. the abuser has a gun and uses it during the abuse), call
the police or your local emergency services (such as 911 in the U.S.) IMMEDIATELY.
Provide critical information, such as location, names, contact number, and whether or not
you wish the remain anonymous. Do NOT intervene personally in this scenario as it will be
too dangerous to do so.

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #10: Listen to empower. If a victim of domestic

violence reaches out to you, listen. Let her know that you believe her and do not judge her
choices. Victims often feel completely isolated and are often belittled by their partner; it is
important to enable her to feel safe when confiding in you because eventually, she may well
be able to gather enough courage to tell you exactly what is happening and to ask for help.
This intervention tip may be particularly useful for hairdressers, nurses, human resource
department personnel and anyone working in professions that involve having to listen to
clients, customers and co-workers as part of the job.

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #11: Be on standby If you suspect your friend, co-
worker, staff, or family member of suffering from Domestic Violence, offer to be on standby
for her text or call for emergencies. Have your phone on and fully charged at all times and
keep it on you. If you have a car and need to intervene immediately, make sure that the
gas/petrol tank is full so you can get in and drive to get the victim/survivor immediately if
need be.

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #12: Have an intervention plan. Work out a plan to
get an intervention operation in action have the following numbers on standby for your use:
 The national Domestic Violence helpline (if your country has it)

The local Domestic Violence shelter helpline wherever the victim/survivor is located.

The local police wherever the victim/survivor is located.

Make sure to contact all of these agencies immediately should you receive an urgent SOS
from the victim/survivor or if you hear or witness the violence begin and escalate (and in
many cases, it may escalate incredibly quickly).

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #13: Provide some relief. If you know a Domestic
Violence victim/survivor who is being kept at home without relief, do a random act of
kindness for her: Offer to babysit the children for a few hours while the abuser is out so she
can have a breather; Offer to pick up groceries for her on your grocery run. Every small
gesture helps provide relieve and also build the victims confidence in eventually reaching
out to you for help (or accepting your help).

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #14: Check in regularly. If you fear for your friend,
co-worker, classmate, or family members life, call or text her once a day at a random time to
see if she is all right. If its your neighbor, keep an eye out on the house and your ears
pricked for any signs or sounds of violence.

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #15: Be a resource. Help her find the assistance she
needs, whether it is legal information, local domestic violence programmers, or finding a
safe place through a battered womens shelter. The greatest danger women face in these
situations is often the actual process of leaving, so finding a safe place may be key. Knowing
this information beforehand may be helpful, but assisting her in the research and even
making phone calls for her will also help speed things up.

Domestic Violence Intervention Tip #16: Document! Document! Document! Document

any incidents that you witness. Take note of dates, times, injuries, and any other
observations. Your ongoing documentation can help bolster a victims courage and credibility
when they are finally willing to pursue legal action against their partner.
Domestic violence in India:
Domestic violence in India includes any form of violence suffered by a person from a
biological relative, but typically is the violence suffered by a woman by male members of her
family or relatives. According to a National Family and Health Survey in 2005, total lifetime
prevalence of domestic violence was 33.5% and 8.5% for sexual violence among women
aged 15-49. The instance of violence was reported to be lowest among Buddhist and Jain
women, and highest among Muslim women in India., A 2014 study in The Lancet reports
that the reported sexual violence rate in India is among the lowest in the world, the large
population of India means that the violence affects 275 million over women their lifetime.

The 2012 National Crime Records Bureau report of India states a reported crime rate of 46
per 100,000, rape rate of 2 per 100,000, dowry homicide rate of 0.7 per 100,000 and the rate
of domestic cruelty by husband or his relatives as 5.9 per 100,000. These reported rates are
significantly smaller than the reported intimate partner domestic violence rates in many
countries, such as the United States (590 per 100,000) and reported homicide (6.2 per
100,000 globally), crime and rape incidence rates per 100,000 women for most nations
tracked by the United Nations.

The Domestic Violence Act of 2005 of India legally defines domestic violence and the
prosecution guidelines of those cases that are reported to the police.
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence:

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 is an Act of the Parliament of
India enacted to protect women from domestic violence. It was brought into force by the
Indian government from 26 October 2006. The Act provides for the first time in Indian law a
definition of "domestic violence", with this definition being broad and including not only
physical violence, but also other forms of violence such as emotional/verbal, sexual, and
economic abuse. It is a civil law meant primarily for protection orders and not meant to
penalize criminally. The act does not extend to Jammu and Kashmir, which has its own laws,
and which enacted in 2010 the Jammu and Kashmir Protection of Women from Domestic
Violence Act, 2010.

Domestic Violence - Do's and Don'ts:

Things You Can Do:

Talk to your partner, if it is safe. Explain how you want to be treated.

Leave, either temporarily or permanently. Leaving temporarily may send a message to

the batterer that you will not allow yourself to be mistreated. He may honestly want to
seek help, but unless there is a consequence to their actions (in this case, your
leaving) the batterer has no reason to change. If the abuse continues, it is your
responsibility to protect yourself by leaving permanently.

Get Help. It is very difficult to extract yourself from a violent situation by yourself.
Talk about your situation. Silence about abuse is what keeps women trapped in the
cycle. Talk to your family, friends, counselors, physicians, clergy, and neighbors.
You'll get the information you need to make sound decisions about your future, and
gain control of your life.

Know the law, it's on your side. Assault is a crime. Arrest and prosecution are known
deterrents to continued family violence. A restraining order can be a useful tool
 because it excludes the offender from the victim's home and/or place of work or
school. Offenders can be required to participate in counseling or anger management
classes as part of a protective order. Emergency protective orders can be issued when
the victim fears for his/her safety, even though violence has not occurred.

Things You Can't Do:

You can't change your partner's behavior. You cannot stop your partner's violence
toward you. He is in control of his actions just as you are in control of yours.

You can't stay in an abusive relationship and be safe. Without intervention, family
violence becomes more frequent and severe.

You can't "do the right thing" to please the abuser. It is not about you. The choice to
abuse you is lies with the abuser.

You can't save the relationship by yourself. You can go to counseling to get help for
yourself and you can "be" whatever you think it takes to make things better, but it
takes two people to make a relationship work.

Don't blame yourself for your own victimization. It's not your fault!

You can't forgive and forget. It only gives the abuser permission to strike again. If the
abuser does not suffer consequences, he has no reason to stop.

You can't shield your partner from the consequences of abusive behavior. "He really
didn't ean it officer..." Helping him avoid jail is NOT helping him. He'll promise
anything to avoid the consequences of his violence toward you. Don't further risk
your life to help someone who is hurting you.

Don't respond to violence with more violence. Violence is not an appropriate or

helpful response to another person's actions or words. However, if you are in extreme
fear for your life, you have the right to defend yourself.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month:
In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the National Child Traumatic Stress
Network (NCTSN) is offering resources to help educate parents and families, educators,
professionals, and policy makers about domestic violence.

In an interview on PBS, Esta Soler from Futures without Violence reminds us that in the 20
years since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, we have seen a 64 percent
reduction for domestic violence among adult women. But were only really halfway there.
According to the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey one in four
women will become a victim of domestic violence.

In addition, every year millions of children are exposed to domestic violence. Domestic
violence incidents affect every person within a home and can have long-lasting negative
effects on children's emotional well-being, and social and academic functioning.

Conclusions:

The effects of domestic violence on our society are obviously enormous, but are impossible
to measure. Our entire nation suffers. You can see the effects at bus stations, fast-food
restaurants, and schools. You can see it on television and in jails. You can see it in people's
faces on the street - hopelessness, pessimism, hard-headedness, meanness. A person's spirit is
priceless, and a broken spirit costs more than can be measured in dollars.

Still, think about the cost of domestic violence in terms of just dollars and cents, and it's
devastating. Abuse victims need medical care. Up to 54% of women seeking emergency
services, up to 66% of women seeking general medical care, and up to 20% of women
seeking prenatal care report experiencing domestic violence. 17 Victims of abuse also require
mental health care. There is enormous cost to the state in the form of time spent by law
enforcement officers, courts, lawyers, public health workers and more. There is cost to social
welfare organizations in the form of money and donated time to staff and run shelters,
counseling services, hotlines, and more. There is cost to the productivity of our workhouse in
the form of absenteeism, worker re-training (when a victim is killed), and decreased
productivity. The educational system is required to provide specialized services to children
suffering from attentional and behavioral problems resulting from domestic violence.

Now think about the fact that children growing up in a house with domestic violence will
grow up and require medical care for stress-related illnesses, mental health care for anxiety,
depression, panic, and shock. They will likely end up costing the state money in the legal
system, will earn less than their peers because of their academic difficulties as children and
because they may have lost the optimistic and risk-taking qualities necessary to become
successful, and finally, they will likely raise children who will in turn continue the cycle.

---End Of Document---