Protection of women from domestic violence act 2005

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Protection of women from domestic violence act 2005

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Pay compensation to widow for domestic violence: HC to in-laws

Pay compensation to widow for domestic violence: HC to in-laws

Fri, Aug 20 10:35 AM
Hindustan Times.com

Mumbai, Aug. 20 -- In a landmark judgment, the Bombay High Court has directed a widow's in-laws to pay her compensation under the Domestic Violence Act.

Justice J.H. Bhatia directed Banu Warunkar's (35) father-in-law Abdul (65), mother-in-law Mumtaz (60) and brother-in-law Alimoon (30) to pay compensation of Rs 1.9 lakh for dispossessing her from her husband's shop. The compensation awarded is of Rs 5,000 per month since May 2007.

The Warunkars have also been directed to pay Banu Rs 5,000 every month. Under the Act, domestic relationship is "a relationship between two persons who live or have at any point of time, lived together in a shared household, when they are related by consanguinity, marriage, or through a relationship in the nature of marriage, adoption or are family members living together as a joint family.

" Mahableshwar residents Banu and Hashim, who ran a shop, got married in 1989. After his death in 1992, Banu managed the shop.

In 2006, Banu's father bought another shop nearby in her son's name. Banu alleged that on March 26, 2007, her brother-in-law assaulted her and took possession of both shops.

She filed a police complaint. Later she filed a complaint before a metropolitan magistrate under the Domestic Violence Act, seeking re-possession of her shops and compensation.

The magistrate directed the Warunkars to hand over the shops to Banu, but did not award her compensation. The Warunkars challenged the order before the sessions court, which observed that Banu had failed to prove that she was in possession of the shops.

Banu then moved the high court. Reversing the order of the sessions court, the high court observed that it was proved that Banu was living with her in-laws since 1989.

Observing that taking away the shops meant loss of livelihood for her, the high court directed her in-laws to compensate her

Youtube video on Domestic Violence by Maitri

Winnie Singh

I am a Woman

I am a woman and I have an identity…………….

I have control over my life.
I have the right to dignity.
I can decide what is right for me
I deserve to be treated with respect
I have the right to be safe and healthy
I am a worthwhile human being and contribute to my family and society.
I will not take blame for being beaten and abused.
I do not want to be abused and will not accept it.
I am not responsible for my husband’s violent behavior.
I deserve that my husband change for me, like I did for him.
I am not alone; I can ask others for help.
I love my husband, but I will not allow him to abuse me emotionally, sexually, and physically.
As a human being, a woman, a wife, a mother, a sister, daughter and a daughter-in-law, I have right to be treated with respect and love.

I am a woman and I have an identity………..

I am a human being just as you are………..

Winnie Singh

Domestic violence has lasting effects on all involved

Domestic violence has lasting effects on all involved
TIM BATES
Rome Observer Columnist

Domestic Violence is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as, "the inflicting of physical injury by one family or household member on another; also: a repeated or habitual pattern of such behavior.’ That definition has been expanded by many to include the willful intimidation, emotional abuse, sexual assault or other such abusive behavior perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. Many of us tend to associate victims of domestic violence as exclusively female, and although women are by far the majority of those victimized (approximately 85 percent are women), we know that men are also at risk for domestic violence, either by a male or female partner. Although also not as common, women are also capable of being the aggressor, and also against a male or female partner. In some cases, both partners may lash out at each other. The majority of victims of abuse are between the ages of 16 to 24 and the poor are significantly more apt to be at risk than the wealthy. Sadly, we also know that most cases of domestic violence are not reported to the police.

We all know by now that there is never an excuse for violence, but when it comes to this type of abuse the victim often blames them self, and the aggressor often helps to reinforce that lie. This can be accomplished by a show of remorse followed by a blame-laden session of excuses where the victim is led to believe they brought the abuse upon them self by their own actions or words. This can lead to self-doubt, poor self-image and a belief that they "deserve" the abuse. Other long-term effects on the victim include anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol dependency, panic attacks, sleep disorders and various health issues. Although many times the victims will take steps to shield their children from the abuse, the emotional scars left on the victim can also cause them to withdraw from that relationship. Many children of domestic violence grow up feeling detached from both parents and can experience difficulty in forming personal relationships.

As we noted earlier, the effects of domestic violence go far beyond the physical marks left behind. Children who witness domestic violence suffer extensive psychological trauma. These children can suffer from language and cognitive problems, developmental delay and poor academic performance. They may feel guilty for their inability to stop the abuse, can become withdrawn and experience social isolation and difficulty dealing with others. Boys who witness this type of violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children once they reach adulthood. Each year medical expenses incurred as a consequence of domestic violence total between 3 and 5 billion dollars. Employers lose millions of dollars a year in missed work from employees suffering the ill effects of domestic violence.

Because of the psychological consequences inflicted on many victims, even the victim may not recognize that they are in an abusive relationship. However, there are many signs that you may be the victim of domestic abuse, and if you have concerns you should ask yourself a few questions. Are you often afraid of your partner, or do you avoid certain topics or situations out of the fear that it might anger them? Does your partner humiliate or yell at you, put you down or blame you for their abusive behavior? Do they act jealous or possessive, control where you go and what you can do, keep you from seeing family or friends and limit your access to money or the phone? These are just a few indicators of an abusive relationship, but if they physically hurt you, force themselves upon you sexually or threaten to take your children away or harm them, it is time to take action.

You may also have a friend or family member that you suspect is being abused by their partner. Some signs that domestic violence may be taking place include an anxious need to always please their partner, and a constant need to check in or "report" their activities. They usually always go along with their partner’s wishes, and may frequently miss school, work or other occasions without excuse. Many victims of domestic abuse will wear heavy make-up or long sleeved shirts or pants to cover their injuries, even in the hottest of temperatures. Frequent unexplained or suspicious injuries are often incurred by these victims, and they may become increasingly withdrawn and may start failing to return your calls or emails. If you suspect abuse, you should speak with that person privately. Express your concern and offer support, but don’t ever take it upon yourself to "intervene" with their abuser. Don’t judge or pressure the victim; simply offer your help and a promise of discretion.

If you are a victim of domestic violence or know someone who may be, there is help available. You should contact the police immediately after any instance of abuse, and remember that there are many programs out there to help the victims of domestic violence. A great place to start is the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence; their 24 hour hotline number is 1-800-942-6906. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Tim Bates is the Commander of Detective Division of the Rome, New York Police Department. For questions or comments, he can be reached at (315) 339-7715 or at batest@romepd.com.

Domestic violence cases on the rise in Delhi courts

Domestic violence cases on the rise in Delhi courts

Thu, Aug 19 05:03 PM

New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) Delhi women appear to be increasingly resorting to legal action against domestic violence with over 25 cases being filed in district courts every day.

According to court officials, there has been a steep increase in the number of such cases every year - be it wife-beating or abuse of the girl child - since the introduction in 2006 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act that was hailed as pathbreaking.

On an average, around 840 cases a month have been filed this year in all the district courts, as compared to the figure of 535 cases in 2009, according to court employees.

The five district courts in the city -- Tis Hazari, Patiala House, Dwarka, Karkardooma and Rohini -- house 12 family courts which handle such cases.

Court statistics show that the highest number of domestic violence cases are filed in the Tis Hazari court complex. The average per month in three of its courts ranges between 100 and 150.

'There has been an increase of 10-20 percent cases since last year,' a court official told IANS about cases in Tis Hazari's family courts.

An average of 120 fresh cases are filed per month in the Patiala House courts while around 100 cases per month were filed last year.

'The reason for more cases here is that it's a residential area and as compared to other areas there are more educated people here,' advocate Pradeep Niwani, who fights cases pertaining to family courts.

The Dwarka court under Metropolitan Magistrate Rekha which has the southwest area has also seen an escalated number of such cases. 'On an average, 10-15 cases used to be filed per month last year, but now we get at least 60 fresh cases every month,' a court official told IANS.

While in most of the courts the numbers are spiralling, a few remain low.

In Metropolitan Magistrate Geetanjali Goel's court in Patiala House which looks after the New Delhi District area, the cases under the domestic violence act filed per month comes to two or three.

'Her jurisdiction has areas like Parliament street, Tilak Marg, Connaught Place, Barakhamba and Mandir Marg. We don't get many such cases from here partly because this area is more commercial,' said the official who did not wish to be named.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act was aimed at giving protection and compensation for all kinds of abuse at home, including physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and economic. Apart from wives and live-in partners, it extends its protection to sisters, widows or mothers.

Sections 18-23 of the Act provide a large number of avenues for an abused woman to get relief. She can get, through the courts, protection orders, residence orders, monetary relief, order for custody of her children, compensation order and interim orders.

Since its introduction in 2006, a rise in the number of such cases filed shows increased awareness about this law across all sections.

'The awareness is not just among women. Police and NGOs are also helping in spreading information about this law,' said Tenzing Choesang, a member of the women's rights initiative of Lawyers Collective.

'Not only the educated but also the illiterate are taking recourse to it with the help of NGOs and police,' he added.

Seema Chandra (name changed), 40, a working professional and a mother of two, has been mentally harassed and beaten up by her husband. She filed a domestic violence case against her husband after her children forced her into it.

'It was going on for a long time but I told my children recently about it. Things got out of hand when the occasional beatings suddenly became regular,' said Chandra.

Razia Fatima (name changed), 25, is an educated housewife who got married a year ago. She was not allowed to continue with her job.

'My husband accused me of having an affair. The verbal anger turned into beatings,' said Fatima, who filed a case two months ago.

According to Choesang, 3,534 cases were filed in the Delhi district courts from October 2006-August 2008.

'These are the statistics provided to us from the women and child welfare department. These numbers do not include the cases filed directly at the court. The numbers may even be higher,' he added.

(Sugandha Pathak can be contacted at sugandha.p@ians.in)

http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100819/812/tnl-domestic-violence-cases-on-the-rise_1.html

Women's Progress is Global Progress

'Women's Progress is Global Progress'

Alyse Nelson
Alyse Nelson is President and Chief Executive Officer of Vital Voices Global Partnership. A co-founder of Vital Voices, Alyse has worked with the organization for 12 years.

There's no mistaking a new consciousness is on the rise when it comes to women's empowerment.

Challenges once marginalized as 'women's issues' are moving into the global mainstream, especially with the world's attention focused on economic recovery and development.

The Economist estimates that over the past decade, women have contributed more to global GDP growth than new technology or emerging economic heavyweights, India and China. The United Nations finds that 60 percent of the world's work is done by women. And for the first time in U.S. history, women constitute a majority in the workforce. Businesses and governments alike are formulating strategies to channel women's energy into the generation of prosperity.

Yet, there's a lot more to consider than women's contributions to economic growth. Women's comparable capacity for social and political development must not be overlooked.

In societies where women have equal access to education and political representation, governments are more open and free; younger generations are healthier and better educated. The UN has found that women reinvest up to 90 percent of their income in their families and communities.

At Vital Voices, we've seen that when women gain access to economic, social and political opportunity, they carry whole societies forward with them. After Kakenya Ntaiya became the first girl in Enoosaen, Kenya to attend college, she returned to build the first primary school for girls in that village so that others could have the opportunity she had to fight for.

It's not that women need our help. We need theirs. The reality is simple, women's progress means global progress, and any advances being made on the economic front are tenuous if they're not reinforced by women's increased access to social and political opportunity.

A majority of the world's women do not legally own, control or inherit property, land or wealth. As a result, they are unable to start and grow small businesses. Yet, we know that in our own country, women-owned businesses have been enormous drivers of economic growth.

Similarly, only about one third of countries around the world have laws in place to combat violence against women, and in most of these countries those laws are not enforced, well resourced or taken seriously.

Violence against women and girls, in the form of human trafficking, harmful cultural practices, rape as a tactic of war and domestic violence, is one of the single greatest barriers holding women back. A staggering statistic: one out of every three women will be a victim of violence in her lifetime. And the problem is getting worse every year.

If we don't address the inequity of restricted access or the scourge of gender-based violence, women's potential goes unrealized and whole communities stand to lose.

Here's the good news. It's not a zero-sum game. Improving one group's access to opportunity doesn't mean denying possibility to another. In environments where women's equitable share is both possible and likely, opportunities and prosperity are increased for all.

Society, as a whole, must make unified movement towards this goal. We've got to engage businesses, governments, international organizations and individual citizens. If we're looking to foster shared progress, progress that's unqualified, sustainable and global, we've got to invest in women's economic, social and political presence with equal consideration.

(this title is borrowed from a speech made by Sec. Clinton in March 2010)

Indian Women Abused By In-Laws During Pregnancy

Indian Women Abused By In-Laws During Pregnancy
August 19, 2010
— imranshaukat

Physical abuse and maltreatment by in-laws is not uncommon among pregnant and postpartum women in India, and may be compromising maternal and child health, according to a new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher.

The study by a multi-institutional team led by Anita Raj, professor of community health sciences at BUSPH — published online this month in the Maternal and Child Health Journal — found that more than one in four women study participants in the low-income Mumbai community reported violence or other forms of maltreatment from in-laws during pregnancy or after giving birth.

Such abuse, which ranged from denial of food to impeded access to medical care, was significantly more likely among women who also experienced violence from their husbands, the study found.

“Findings from this study clearly document the high prevalence of in-law abuse both in pregnancy and postpartum and more importantly, the striking relationship between perinatal in-law abuse and [intimate partner violence]” by husbands, the authors wrote.

“These findings have critical implications for perinatal [intimate partner violence] prevention and intervention efforts with South Asian women and in cultural contexts where extended families form an important social unit.”

The study involved in-depth interviews with women in Mumbai to gauge the prevalence of physical and non-physical abuse by in-laws and husbands during pregnancy and after giving birth. Among the forms of abuse by in-laws that women described was verbal humiliation, impeding access to health care, and denial of food during pregnancy.

While rates of physical abuse were relatively low, 20 percent of women reported that in-laws had insulted them or their families in front of others during their pregnancies. Some women also reported that in-laws pressured them to become pregnant, made decisions regarding the timing of conception or abortion, and dictated who would care for the child.

In one interview included in the study, a 17-year-old Muslim woman says her in-laws “want a boy child, and as you know, I delivered [a] girl child. My sister-in-law has some uterus problems, so she is unable to conceive a child. Now my in-laws want me to deliver another child [a boy] and give the girl to my sister-in-law.”

The study authors said the link between husband abuse and mistreatment by in-laws had important implications for prevention and intervention efforts for South Asian women, in a culture where social units are built around extended families.

“Evidence from this and other studies demonstrates the need to screen and address abuse from in-laws among pregnant and postpartum populations, and indicate that screening for in-law abuse also will likely improve the detection of [abuse by husbands],” the study says.

The authors also pushed for broader changes in social policy “to promote gender equitable attitudes and norms” and to improve the status of women.

Raj has done extensive research on child marriage and domestic violence in India. Her co-authors on the study include: Shagun Sabarwal and Jay G. Silverman, of Harvard School of Public Health; Michele R. Decker, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Saritha Nair, Meghna Jethva and Balaiah Donta, of the Indian Council of Medical Research in Mumbai, India; Suneeta Krishnan, of the Women’s Global Health Imperative, RTI International, and the Division of Epidemiology, University of California-Berkeley; and Niranjan Saggurti, of the Population Council, New Delhi, India.

Source: Lisa Chedekel
Boston University Medical Center

Poem on Domestic Violence

Poem on Domestic Violence

I got flowers today.
I got flowers today.
It wasn’t my birthday
or any special day.
We had our first argument last night,
and he said a lot of cruel things
that really hurt me.
I know he is sorry
and didn’t mean the things he said
because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.
It wasn’t our anniversary
or any other special day.
Last night, he threw me into a wall
and started to choke me.
It seemed like a nightmare.
I couldn’t believe it was real.
I know he must be sorry
because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today,
and it wasn’t Mother’s Day
or any other special day.
Last night, he beat me up again.
If I leave him, what will I do?
How will I take care of my kids?
What about money?
I’m afraid of him and scared to leave.
But I know he must be sorry
because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.
Today was a very special day.
It was the day of my funeral.
Last night, he finally killed me.
If only I had gathered enough courage
and strength to leave him,
I would not have gotten flowers today.

Unknown