Causes and Consequences of Domestic Violence Against Women

Domestic violence refers to physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse from an intimate relationship due to unequal power structure between men and women. It is often under reported because of social stigma, uncertainty of safety, and lack of appropriate response from institutions meant to protect them. Data on this issue is scarce as there are very few studies on the subject. Central Women Police Cell registered 4,019 cases on domestic violence between 2000 and 2006 A.D. A higher level of domestic violence against women exists in the urban and highly educated families as well because they are taught their duties but not their rights so those who decide to come forth demanding justice face an uphill task. There are more than 150 discriminatory legal provisions against women that denied them from enjoying equal rights within the law and being protected from violence from families, communities and the state. Women are thus denied the most fundamental Human Rights: namely life, liberty, bodily integrity and dignity of the person. Women's organizations and Mother Groups in rural areas have started reacting through social action and mass protest against it.