UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON VICTIMS OF ABUSE

Abstract

The issue of violence against women is a matter of global concern and has its roots in global governance, economic and social structures. Violence against women and girls is a gross violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Feminist analysis has interestingly shown that the family is not always a safe and secure place for women as home is often the site of exploitation and harassment. Domestic violence or intimate-partner violence is one of the most prevalent types of gender-based violence. In public and private life, violence or the threat of violence prevents many women from participating in the social, economic, and political life of their nation. Moreover, gender-based violence cuts across divisions of race, class, religion, age, ethnicity, sexuality, culture, and geographic region. Any woman anywhere can be a victim and a survivor of gender-based violence. Violence against women and girls injures and damages a person physically, psychologically, economically and sexually. Violence affects lives of millions of people worldwide in the same way as armed conflicts affect economic growth or normal functioning of public services. Domestic violence is a crime against women in particular and humanity in general. This paper deals with the adverse impact of domestic violence on women and children in particular and society in general.