INTRODUCTION
The United Nations defines violence against women as: “Any act of gender-based
violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or
suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of
liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life."
Violence affects millions of women all over the world. It affects women from all
cultures, religions, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Female-targeted violence was
acknowledged in December 1993 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration
on the Elimination of Violence against Women. At the Beijing Conference (September
1995) Governments declared that “violence against women constitutes a violation of basic
human rights and is an obstacle to the achievement of the objectives of equality,
development and peace”
Violence against women has a global magnitude and it is based on sex inequality.
Violence against women is sometimes a mechanism for subordination or sometimes
women’s unequal status favours their vulnerability to violence. Violence against women
usually takes place over long lasting periods and is often perpetrated by people who might
live or interact regularly with them.
COMMON FORMS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
There are three levels of violence against women; violence at the home or family
level, at the community level and at the state level. The different forms at the three levels
are:
(i)
Domestic violence: This is usually carried out by a husband or partner or family
members. It includes physical and sexual violence, usually accompanied by
psychological abuse. It’s estimated that from 10% to 50% of women have suffered
this kind of violence.
(ii)
Financial abuse: Stealing or controlling the money or valuables and belongings of a
women (of particular concern to older women). It also includes forcing women to
work and taking away the salary. Another form is denying her the right to work so
that she would not enjoy financial freedom.
Dr. George Varghese, MTTC Pathanapuram
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