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What is Domestic Violence? Domestic violence as, any violence which is initiated between current and former partners in an intimate relationship, whether it be physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse(Home Office ). 1 Constructive research establishes that it affects one in four women in their lifetime.2 In addition, The 1993 United Nations World Conference on Human Rights described violence as any act of gender based violence resulting or likely to result in harm to women, and occurring in the family, within the general community, and perpetrated or condoned by the state.3

Who are the victims of domestic violence? Jenkins et al. (2001) suggest that it is principally women who are from poor and uneducated backgrounds that tend to be victims of domestic violence4. In addition, Jenkins et al., (2001) indicate that several studies have found that diverse women and women living in poverty are at higher risk of violence of all types specifically for severe and life threatening assaults. Furthermore, Jenkins et al., (2001) state that a report taken from the National Crime Victimization Survey (1992-1996) revealed that there was no statistical differentiation between Black, White, Hispanic and Non-Hispanic women
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G Douglas & N Lowe Bromleys Family Law (10th Ed) ( Oxford University Press, New York, 2006) 212. 2 .ibid.1 3 T Skinner, M Hester & E Malos (eds) Research in Gender Violence: Feminist Methodology in Action (Willan Publishing, Devon, 2005)2. 4 P J Jenkins & B P Davidson Stopping Domestic Violence: How a community can prevent spousal abuse (Kulwer Academic, London, 2001) 59.

0513466 who suffered at the hand of domestic violence5. Additionally, Davies et al., (2005) furthermore suggest that women were more likely to have been attacked by their present or former partners these reported incidents had accounted for 80%, while only 47% of assaults on men were by existing or previous partners, half of the assaults were perpetrated by other members of the family and other relatives. 6 Mirrlees-Black has reported findings that 3.9% Indian and 4.3% Pakistani/Bangladeshi women suffer at the hands of domestic violence; nevertheless it has been shown that men are less likely to be the victims of domestic violence.7 Anitha (2008) states8 that women of ethnic origins specifically women from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh may suffer from domestic violence not only at the hands of their husbands, but also from other members of the family and what prevents them from leaving is the thought of being stigmatized and dishonouring their family. Some of these women have travelled to England to be with their fianc. But these women would have an apprehensive immigration status and due to this issue Asian women stay in the relationship and tolerate domestic violence, these women would either have to tolerate the domestic abuse or return to the country of origin and face abuse from their families.

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.ibid.59. M Davis, H,Croall, & J,Tyrer, Criminal Justice: Introduction to the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales (Pearson Education Limited, Essex, 2005) 56 . 7 P Chana Domestic Violence: Impact of Culture and Experiences of Asian (Indian subcontinent) Women (Social Work Monographs, Norwich, 2005) 17. 8 S Anitha Neither safety nor justice: the UK government reponse to domestic violence against immigrant women (2008) 30 SL&FL189,190