Recently released Bollywood movie ‘Secret Superstar’ brings to focus the darker and gruesome side of domestic violence against women in Indian society. The movie portrays the enormous pain, trauma and agony of women and girl child in the male dominated culture.
Domestic violence can be defined as violence between members of household wherein one member of a family assaults or uses force and intimidation against others. 90% of domestic violence is generally against women especially on wife by the husband. These violent assaults many at times leads to murders, marital rapes, physical and mental torture and above all humiliation.
According to UNICEF violence against women is present in every county, cutting across boundaries of culture, class, education, income, ethnicity and age. Even though most societies prohibit violence against women, the reality is that violations against women’s human rights are often sanctioned under the garb of cultural practices and norms, or through misinterpretation of religious tenets. Moreover, when the violation takes place within the home, as is very often the case, the abuse is effectively condoned by the tacit silence and the passivity displayed by the state and the law-enforcing machinery.
Perhaps the single most cause for domestic violence is belief in the values that gives men proprietary rights over women and girls. Indian society which has a strong religious and traditional influences generally provide the notions of the family under the male control cementing belief in the inherent superiority of males. The isolation of women in their families and communities is also known to contribute to increased violence. Added to this lack of knowledge about legal rights particularly among poor and illiterate women provide male members of the family a license to subjugate women and girls.
The consequences of domestic violence against women can be either physical or psychological. Physical injury is visible form of violence against women resulting in bruises, fractures and disfigurement. The impact of violence on women’s mental health results in severe and fatal consequences. Battered women have a high incidence of stress and stress-related diseases like depression, high blood pressure, alcoholism, drug abuse and low self-esteem. Many times depression culminates into suicides.
Children who have witnessed domestic violence or have themselves been abused, exhibit health and behavior problems, including problems with their weight, their eating and their sleep. They may have difficulty at school and find it hard to develop close and positive friendships. They may try to run away or even display suicidal tendencies.
Protection of women from Domestic Violance:
International human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted in 1948, the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW) adopted in 1979, and the convention of rights of the child (CRC) adopted in 1989, affirm the principles of fundamental rights and freedom of every human being. Both CEDAW and the CRC are guided by a broad concept of human rights that stretches beyond civil and political rights to the core issues of economic survival, health, and education that affect the quality of daily life for most women and children. The two conventions call for the right to protection from gender-based abuse and neglect.
In India, the thought process to combat domestic violence against women emerged a little late. Union Government enacted the protection of women from Domestic Violence Act in 2005. The object of the Act is to provide more effective protection of the right of women, who are victim of violence of any kind occurring within the family. The Act provides for punishment for any physical, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse against women by their husbands. The Act goes a step further to include economic abuse such a deprivation of economic and financial resources to women as penal offence.
Apart from protection from Domestic Violence Act, Government enacted the protection of Children from sexual offences Act (POCSO) in 2012 and amended section 376 IPC to provide for stringent punishment for any sexual abuse against minor girls. These enactments provide for tough measures to be taken against perpetration of violence against women and girls after the crime is committed. Prevention of such crimes involve a series of measures to be undertaken by Government, civil society, NGO’s and all the state holders.
Human rights education and information regarding domestic violence should be provided to women, because this is a matter of their absolute right. Apart from this women need to be empowered through education, employment opportunities, legal literacy, and right to inheritance. Legal services in this form of free legal aid, legal counselling and redressal mechanism should be made available to women victims by the state and NGO’s. The intervention strategies should include assistance to help womens to rebuild and recover their lives after violence through relocation, counseling, employment opportunities and moral support to achieve self reliance.
Formal agencies like police, judiciary, health services and women welfare departments should have proper co-ordination to ensure that, their effort are directed to provide a environment free from domestic violence against women. Informal networks such as NGO’s, women help groups, community organization should be trained to indentify women and girls, who are at greater risks of domestic violence and harassment. Once identified they may be referred to formal support centres for remedial action. Early identification of risk families will help in timely intervention to prevent physical and mental traumatic suffering of women to a very large extent.
Finally, it is the responsibility of government agencies like criminal justice system, health and welfare organization, local community, civil society and families to ensure zero tolerance of domestic violence to achieve gender equality in letter and spirit.