Domestic violence and emotional stress are behaviours used by one person in a relationship to harass the other one. As per a study, every 20 seconds, someone becomes a victim of domestic violence. A partner may be married or not married. Domestic violence act is for both men and women. Though domestic violence against men in India is not recognized by the law. The general perception is that men cannot be victims of violence. But guilty can be anyone either men or women. Physical abuse can include very aggressive acts, such as beatings and forced sexual activity including intercourse, or it can take the form of less severe acts like throwing, shoving and slapping, all are strictly prohibited in law.
In emotional abuse, the abuser constantly humiliates and puts down the victim. The weapons of emotional abuse include verbal insults, threats, unfounded accusations of infidelity, control of economic decisions and social isolation.
Depending on the relationship, the physical or emotional abuse may happen in every argument or fight. Either way, once violence begins, it will usually continue and get worse over time. No matter how often the abuse happens, the victim of domestic violence suffers constant terror and stress.
While women are most commonly the victims of their male partners, domestic violence can happen between all sorts of people and in all sorts of relationships. It happens between people who are married and between people who aren’t living together. It can be abused by a man against a woman, or by a woman against a man.
It is a common reality in our society. It occurs in all social classes, ethnic groups, cultures and religions. Most people don’t realize how common it is, because very often victims of abuse keep quiet. These incidents of violence occur in every fight because you promote the offender by not saying or taking any action against him or her. Realization of guilt is true only when it does not happen again, rest is a habit and habitual offender always need a lesson. We help people in taking strict action against a person who is guilty of physical violence or mental agony.
Protection of women under the domestic violence Act 2005 provides following relief to the aggrieved party.
1. Victim resources – Under the Act, victims should be provided with adequate medical facilities, counselling and shelter homes as well as the legal aid when required.
2. Counselling: Section 14 – Counselling, as directed by the magistrate, should be provided to both the parties involved or whichever party requires it, as ordered.
3. Protection Officers: Section 9 – Under the Act, Protection Officers should be appointed by the government in every district, who preferably should be women, and should be qualified. The duties of the Protection Officer include filing a domestic incidence report, providing shelter homes, medical facilities and legal aid for the victims, and ensuring that protection orders issued against the respondents are carried out.
4. Protection orders: Section 18 – Protection orders for the victim’s safety can be issued against the respondent and include for when he commits violence, aid or abets it, enters any place which the victim frequents or attempts to communicate with her, restricts any form of assets of the victim or causes violence to people of interest to the victim.
5. Residence: Section 19 – The magistrate may choose to restrict the respondent from the place of residence of both the parties if they feel that it is for the safety of the victim. Additionally, the respondent cannot evict the victim from the place of residence.
6. Monetary relief: Section 20 – The respondent has to provide relief to the victim to compensate for the loss, including loss of earnings, medical expenses, any expenses incurred due to loss of property by destruction, damage or removal, and maintenance of the victim and her children.
7. Custody of children: Section 21 – Custody of children should be granted to the victim as required, with visiting rights to the respondent if necessary.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE