The Hindu : New Delhi News : Serious efforts needed to curb domestic violence

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Saturday, Jun 13, 2009
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New Delhi

Serious efforts needed to curb domestic violence

A series of senseless acts of violence perpetrated on women by male members of their family in the Capital in the past few days have once again highlighted the need for more serious and determined efforts to tackle domestic violence, the most prevalent yet relatively hidden and ignored form of violence against women and girls.

The incidents reported from different parts of the Capital range from physical torture to sexual abuse of women of all ages, the most recent being an elderly woman who was beaten up and attacked with a hatchet by her husband in Tilak Nagar this past Wednesday for refusing to transfer ownership of their house and shop to him. A day earlier, the police had arrested a 45-year-old ex-Serviceman on the outskirts of the Capital for allegedly criminally assaulting his minor daughter for over a year.

In yet another brutal instance of domestic violence reported recently, a photographer husband allegedly beat up his wife with a hammer inflicting multiple fractures and then pushed her down from the first floor of their house in the trans-Yamuna area, apparently for delay in serving him food.

Domestic violence is not just about beating up or fighting or an occasional argument, it is an establishment of control and fear in a relationship through violence and other forms of abuse such as criminal assault and threats. Though males usually perpetrate the violence in the domestic sphere, women can also be violent, but their actions account for a small percentage of domestic violence.

“Despite the law on domestic violence, women usually suffer in silence and do not come out to report fearing loss of social prestige and to save the relationship. Some women even agree that it is justifiable for a husband to beat his wife under some circumstances. Since the crime takes place within the four walls of the home, the police are unable to act without a complaint,” said a senior police officer who has dealt with several cases of domestic violence.

Witnessing domestic violence and experiencing physical and sexual abuse can also have a devastating effect on the psyche of the victim. Recently a woman stabbed her husband to death in Rohini after nine years of their troubled marriage as she could no longer bear the physical torture at his hands. Even the children witnessing domestic violence might grow up learning it as a means of resolving conflict and asserting manhood.

The problem has several cultural, economic, legal and political dimensions such as belief in inherent superiority of males, women’s economic dependence on men, limited access to employment opportunities, low level of literacy and limited participation of women in organised political system contributing to it. Thus mere promulgation of law is not enough to tackle the problem. There is a pressing need for the families, government, institutions and civil society organisations to come together and address the issue.

Disseminating information on the existing law pertaining to domestic violence and its enforcement, available financial and other supports offered by the government and the procedures for obtaining such assistance can also go a long way in tackling the problem.

Ashok Kumar

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