Q) Discuss the impact of domestic violence on women. What are the challenges in India while curbing domestic violence? Suggest measures to prevent domestic violence against women during lockdown.
Answer:
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful and sustainable world. Ending all discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, it’s crucial for sustainable future; it’s proven that empowering women and girls helps economic growth and development.
Impact of domestic violence on women:
- The violence negatively impacts on the mental health of women.
- Sexual violence against women has increased
- The violence among the women hindered the fundamental rights under article 14, 21, and 19 of the Indian constitution.
- It also impacts on child well being, female and child mortality, psychological cost.
- It compromised the SDG- 5 which seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women by 2030.
- It affect victim as well as family of the victim
- Violence in any form affects not only physical mental sexual and reproductive health of women but also adversely affects ability to work
- Violence against women can have serious impact on economy of the household as well as of the nation.
- Violence obstructs participation of women in development and planning programs both at micro and macro level.
- Assaulted women will always get agonized and emotionally disturbed and remain quiet after occurrence of the torment.
Challenges in India while curbing domestic violence:
- Inadequate budgetary allocations, unspent budgets and unplanned expenditure on the part of state governments.
- The domestic violence Act is also being misused.
- Financial dependence on her partner can hold back a victim from seeking relief
- The social and family pressure makes even educated and financially independent women take no action.
- The laws and legislations for women safety are either not in compliance with the International standards or not implemented properly.
Suggested measures to prevent domestic violence during lockdown:
- The Government should come out with more stringent laws to protect the rights of women who are victims of violence, so that it will work as the preventive measure to eradicate the crime.
- The state governments need to declare helplines as “essential services” that should remain open during lockdown.
- There is a need for comprehensive and systematic research and analysis on crime against women at Central, State, district and block level.
- Media should create awareness among the public against gender-based violence.
- Increase resourcing for NGOs that respond to domestic violence.
- During the crisis maternal health services, safe abortion etc. have to be made timely accessable.
- Mobile courts should be introduced as an effective strategy to provide justice to the victims
- Encourage the equitable sharing of domestic tasks at home.
- The perpetrators of domestic violence must be brought to trial and repeated offenders must be dealt with strictly as per the provisions of law.
Violence against women and the threat of violence are main barriers to women’s empowerment and equal participation in society. However, they often go unnoticed and undocumented and therefore unresolved. When stress and violence increase in society in general, as they have in the transition region, women’s safety in the home, workplace and community is often seriously affected