Domestic Violence Against Women: Law and Practice in India

Abstract

Women constitute about half of the world’s population, but they are placed at various disadvantageous positions due to gender differences and bias. They have been the victims of violence, discrimination, and exploitation in patriarchal societies all over the world. India is a tradition-based society where women have been socially, economically, physically, psychologically, and sexually exploited from time immemorial in the name of religion and through social sanctions. Among the many manifestations of the violations of the human rights of women, domestic violence is one of the most vicious. It takes place behind closed doors, the very doors which are meant to protect women from the hazards of the outside world. In this paper, the conceptual analysis of domestic violence, its incidence, causes, and consequences are discussed. An attempt is made to assess the international and national efforts to eliminate domestic violence against women. A brief note is made to examine the provisions of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 to curb the problem of domestic violence in India.