Domestic violence (also named domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse in a domestic setting, such as in marriage or cohabitation.
In the broadest sense, domestic violence can also involve violence against children, parents, or the elderly.
It takes a number of forms, including physical, verbal, emotional, economic, religious, reproductive, and sexual abuse, which can range from subtle, coercive forms to marital rape and to violent physical abuse such as choking, beating, female genital mutilation, and acid throwing that results in disfigurement or death.
In 1993, The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women defined domestic violence as:
Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation.
The ugly side of the forced lockdown has resulted in a huge spike of domestic violence. Domestic Violence Cases have seen a 100 percent rise and unfortunately, this data is garnered through internet which leaves out a huge portion of victims who have no access to the internet. In India where the police is busy focussing on other issues like the enforcement of the lockdown by constant patrolling, men are chanelling their frustration on women and their children. Even though the lockdown is a decision for the benefit of mankind ,it has some devastating effects. Protecting women and children has unfortunately not been counted in pandemic management and we aim to brdige the gap between the inflicted and the authorities.