Domestic violence refers to violent or abusive behavior in a household that causes harm and may put the health and safety of a woman or any child under her custody in danger. With the help of the law1, you can:
- Prevent further violence by getting immediate protection. To get immediate protection, you can approach different authorities, such as the police, protection officer, etc.
- Go to Court for:
- Remedies such as monetary compensation, getting a place to stay etc.
- Filing a criminal complaint to punish your harasser
Kinds of Domestic Violence
The kind of violence you face does not always have to be physical. The law also recognizes other kinds of domestic violence such as sexual violence, verbal abuse, emotional or mental abuse and monetary abuse. For example, if your brother-in-law threatens to throw you out of the house every day, this is a form of emotional abuse.
Frequency of Domestic Violence
Even a single act of violence can constitute domestic violence2. You don’t have to endure domestic violence for a prolonged period of time to go to Court or seek help.