Domestic Violence

“ Trauma may happen to you, but it can never define you.”

Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence, is a pattern of behaviour used by one person in a relationship to exert power and control over their partner. Domestic violence against women can take many forms, including physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and economic abuse. Physical abuse is the most visible form of domestic violence and can include acts that cause bodily harm or danger. Sexual abuse can include sexual coercion and marital rape. Verbal and emotional abuse can lead to psychological abuse, which erodes a woman’s sense of self-worth. Economic abuse can include denying or threatening to deny a woman access to financial resources or assets.

In India, domestic violence is often viewed as a private matter and not reported to authorities, which makes it difficult to accurately measure the extent of the problem. Many families and communities view domestic violence as an acceptable form of discipline and control. This, coupled with a lack of legal protections and resources for victims, makes it difficult for those affected by domestic violence to seek help control. This, coupled with a lack of legal protections and resources for victims, makes it difficult for those affected by domestic violence to seek help

“ At any given moment you have the power to say this is not how the story is going to end.”

“You are not the darkness you endured. You are the light that refused to surrender.”
JOHN MARK GREEN

Domestic violence is a serious issue that affects far too many women in India and around the world. Every year, hundreds of thousands of women fall victim to physical, emotional, and psychological abuse at the hands of their partners. The National Crime Bureau in India reported that in 2013 alone, there were 309,546 reported crimes against women, with 118,866 of those incidents being related to domestic violence.
It’s important that we all take a stand against domestic violence and do our part to help victims and prevent future abuse. One way to do this is by supporting organisations that provide aid and resources to those affected by domestic violence.
We urge you to take action and make a donation to our charity which is working towards fighting against domestic violence. Every little bit helps and your support can make a real difference in the lives of those affected by domestic violence. Together, we can work to create a future where everyone is safe and free from abuse.

An interview with a Domestic Violence Lawyer

Domestic violence and abuse

Domestic violence or abuse can happen to anyone. Find out how to recognise the signs and where to get help.

Signs of domestic violence and abuse

There are different kinds of abuse, but it’s always about having power and control over you.

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you might be in an abusive relationship or experiencing domestic abuse.

Emotional abuse

Does your partner or someone you live with ever:

• belittle you, or put you down?
• blame you for the abuse or arguments?
• deny that abuse is happening, or downplay it?
• isolate you from your family and friends?
• stop you going to college or work?
• make unreasonable demands for your attention?
• accuse you of flirting or having affairs?
• tell you what to wear, who to see, where to go, and what to think?
• control your money, or not give you enough to buy food or other essential things?
• monitor your social media profiles, share photos or videos of you without your consent or use GPS locators to know where you are?

Threats and intimidation

Does your partner or someone you live with ever:

• threaten to hurt or kill you?
• destroy things that belong to you?
• stand over you, invade your personal space?
• threaten to kill themselves or the children?
• read your emails, texts or letters?
• harass or follow you?

Physical abuse

The person abusing you may hurt you in a number of ways.

Does your partner or someone you live with ever:

• slap, hit or punch you?
• push or shove you?
• bite or kick you?
• burn you?
• choke you or hold you down?
• throw things?

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse can happen to anyone.

Does your partner or someone you live with ever:

• touch you in a way you do not want to be touched?
• make unwanted sexual demands?
• hurt you during sex?
• pressure you to have unsafe sex – for example, not using a condom?
• pressure you to have sex?

If anyone has sex with you when you do not want to, this is rape. It is still rape if that person is your partner.

Have you ever felt afraid of your partner?

Have you ever changed your behaviour because you’re afraid of what your partner might do?

If you think you may be in an abusive relationship, there are lots of people who can help you.

Domestic violence and abuse against women often starts during pregnancy. If the relationship is already abusive, it can get worse.

Find out more about domestic abuse in pregnancy.

Helping a friend if they’re being abused

If you’re worried a friend is being abused, let them know you’ve noticed something is wrong.

They might not be ready to talk, but try to find quiet times when they can talk if they choose to.

If someone confides in you that they’re suffering domestic abuse:

• listen, and take care not to blame them
• acknowledge it takes strength to talk to someone about experiencing abuse
• give them time to talk, but do not push them to talk if they do not want to
• acknowledge they’re in a frightening and difficult situation
• tell them nobody deserves to be threatened or beaten, despite what the abuser has said
• support them as a friend, encourage them to express their feelings, and allow them to make their own decisions
• do not tell them to leave the relationship or leave home if they’re not ready – that’s their decision
• ask if they have suffered physical harm and if they have, offer to go with them to a hospital or GP
• help them report the assault to the police if they choose to
• be ready to provide information about organisations that offer help for people experiencing domestic abuse

Getting help and support for domestic violence

You do not have to wait for an emergency situation to find help. If domestic abuse is happening to you, it’s important to tell someone and remember you’re not alone.

UK:

• women can call The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night. The staff will offer confidential, non-judgemental information and support
• talk to a doctor, health visitor or midwife
• men can call Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327(Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm), or visit the webchat at Men’s Advice Line (Wednesday 10am to 11.30am and 2.30pm to 4pm) for non-judgemental information and support
• men can also call ManKind on 0182 3334 244 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm)
• if you identify as LGBT+ you can call Galop on 0800 999 5428 for emotional and practical support
• anyone can call Karma Nirvana on 0800 5999 247 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) for forced marriage and honour crimes. You can also call 020 7008 0151 to speak to the UK Forced Marriage Unit
• in an emergency, call 999

You can also email for support. It is important that you specify when and if it is safe to respond and to which email address:

• women can email helpline@womensaid.org.uk. Staff will respond to your email within 5 working days
• men can email info@mensadviceline.org.uk
• LGBT+ people can email help@galop.org.uk

The Survivor’s Handbook from the charity Women’s Aid is free and provides information for women on a wide range of issues, such as housing, money, helping your children, and your legal rights.

If you are worried that you are abusive, you can contact the free Respect helpline on 0808 802 4040.

If you decide to leave

The first step in escaping an abusive situation is realising that you’re not alone and it’s not your fault.

Before you go, try to get advice from an organisation such as:

• Women’s Aid or Refuge for women
• Men’s Advice Line for men
• Galop for LGBT+

If you’re considering leaving, be careful who you tell. It’s important the person abusing you does not know where you’re going.

Women’s Aid has useful information about making a safety plan that applies to both women and men, including advice if you decide to leave.

Maharashtra, India:

Mumbai Police Women Helpline

Open 24/7

Counselors 22633333

Maharashtra Mahila Ayog (Maharashtra Women Commission), Women Crisis Helpline

Open 24/7

Counselors 07477722424

mscw.org.in

Aks Foundation

Responders on our 24/7 crisis lines are well trained in counselling skills and crisis management by providing professional…

Open  24/7

Volunteers

8793 088 814

aksfoundation.org

Sneha

If you or someone you know is a survivor of violence, there is help available. Our centres are open between 10 am and 6 pm from…

Open 4:30 AM–12:30 PM Volunteers

91675 35765

snehamumbai.org

Chetna Mahila Mandal

24-hour toll-free helpline where trained counsellors respond to crisis calls and provide immediate emergency interventions…

Volunteers

94220 32599

SAMPARC Family Counseling

Additional no: 0211 423 1371, 09766 343 456

Open 24/7

Counselors 0211 422 7335

samparc.org

Arpan

Counselors

98190 86444

arpan.org.in

Dignity Foundation, Elder Helpline and Counselling

Dignity Helpline was initiated as a response to the growing numbers of elder abuse cases in India. The biggest challenge with…

Open  24/7

Counselors, Volunteers 18002678780

dignityfoundation.com

India National level 

1. Women Helpline ( All India ) – Women In Distress: 1091
2. Women Helpline Domestic Abuse: 181
3. Police: 100
4. National Commission For Women (NCW) ( Domestic violence 24×7 helpline for Sexual Violence and harassment ):  7827170170
5. National Commission For Women (NCW): 011-26942369, 26944754.
6. Delhi Commision For Women:011-23378044 / 23378317 / 23370597.
7. Outer Delhi Helpline:011-27034873 , 27034874.
8. Student / Child Helpline:1098

State level 

National Commission for Women: 011-23237166, 23234918.

Delhi

1. Delhi Commission for Women: 011-23379181, 23370597
2. Delhi Women Protection Cell:011-24673366/ 4156/ 7699.

Andhra Pradesh

1. Andhra Pradesh – Hyderabad/Secunderabad police station:040-27853508.
2. Andhra Pradesh Women Protection cell:040-23320539.
3. Andhra Pradesh Women Commission:0863-2329090.
4. Hyderabad Women Police Station:040-27852400/4852.

Arunachal Pradesh

1. Arunachal Pradesh Women Commission ‘C’ Sector, Ita Nagar:0360-2214567, 0360-2290544.

Assam

1. Assam Women Helpline:181, 9345215029, 0361-2521242.
2. Assam Women Commission:0361-2227888,2220150 ,0361-2220013.

Bihar 

1. Bihar Women Helpline: 18003456247 / 0612-2320047 / 2214318.
2. Bihar Women Commission (1 South, Bailey Road, Patna, Bihar):0612- 2507800.

Chandigarh

1. Chandigarh Women Police:0172-2741900

Chhattisgarh

1. Chhattisgarh Women Commission (Gaytri Bhawan,  Raipur, http://cgmahilaayog.com/, Email: complaint@cgmahilaayog.com): 0771-2429977, 4013189, 18002334299, 0771-4241400.

Goa

1. Goa Women Helpline:1091, 0832-2421208.
2. Goa Women Commission:0832-2421080.

Gujarat

1. State Women Commission Gujarat(http://www.scwgujarat.org/): 18002331111/ 079-23251604 , 079-23251613.
2. Gujarat- Ahmedabad Women Group(https://www.awagindia.org/): 7926441214.
3. Gujarat- Self Employed Women’s Association(http://www.sewa.org/): 079-25506477/ 25506444.

Haryana

1. Haryana Women and Child Helpline:0124-2335100.
2. Helpline for women in distress:
3. Haryana Women Commission (Bays No: 39-40, CADA Bhawan, Sec-4, Panchkula):0172 – 2584039, 0172-2583639.
4. Women and Child Development Department: 0172-256034.

Himachal Pradesh

1. Himachal Pradesh Women Commission(http://hp.gov.in/hpwomencommission/Home.aspx): 9816077100
2. P. State commission for Women:0177-2622929
3. Himrus Bhawan:0177-2783607
4. Himland, Shimla:01892-228072

Maharashtra

1. Mumbai Railway Police:
2. Mumbai Police Women Helpline No:022-22633333, 22620111.
3. Maharashtra Women Commision(http://mscw.org.in/) ( Gruha Nirman Bhawan Mhada Bldg, Kalanagar, Bandra): 07477722424/ 022-26592707.
4. Maharashtra Women Helpline:022-26111103, 1298, 103.
5. Majlis-Maharashtra:022-26661252 / 26662394.
6. Navi Mumbai Police Station:022-27580255.

Punjab

1. Women Helpline Punjab: 1091/ 112.
2. Women Helpline Amritsar City Only:
3. Punjab Women Commission SCO No:-57,58,59 Sector-17-C, Chandigarh:0172-2712607/ 0172-2783607.
4. Punjab Samvad (NGO):0172- 2546389, 2700109, 276000114.

Tamil Nadu

1. Tamil Nadu Women Helpline:044-28592750.
2. State Commission for Women(http://www.tn.gov.in/detail_contact/5170/5/): 044-28551155.

Tripura

1. Tripura Commission for Women (H.G. Basak Road, Melarmath, Agartala, West Tripura) (http://tcw.nic.in/): 0381-2323355, 2322912

Rajasthan

1. Rajasthan Nirbhaya Helpline: 1800-1200-020.
2. Rajasthan Women Commission:0141-2779001-4.
3. Rajasthan Women Helpline:0141-2744000.
4. Jodhpur Women Helpline:0291-2012112.

Karnataka

1. Bangalore Women Police: 080-22943225.
2. Karnataka Women Police:0821-2418400.
3. Karnataka Women Commission (1st Floor, Karnataka Housing Board Building, Cauvery Bhawan, K.G. Marg, Bangalore-560 009): 080-22100435 / 22862368, 080-2216485.
4. Mysore Women Police:0821-2418110 / 2418410.

Madhya Pradesh

1. Madhya Pradesh Women Commission(http://www.mpswc.nic.in/contact.html): 0755-2661813, 2661802, 2661806, 2661808, 1800-233-6112.
2. Madhya Pradesh Mahila thana:0731-2434999.

Kerala

1. Kerala Women Police Helpline (Trivandrum):
2. Kerala Women’s Commission:0471-2322590, 2320509, 2337589, 2339878, 2339882.
3. State Vanitha Cell:0471-2338100.
4. Women Cell, Kollam:0474-2742376.
5. Women Cell, Kochi:0484-2396730

Uttar Pradesh

1. Uttar Pradesh Women Commission (http://mahilaayog.up.nic.in/): 0522-2306403 , 18001805220, 6306511708.
2. Uttar Pradesh Women Helpline:1090 / 112.

West Bengal

1. West Bengal Women Commission (Salt Lake City, Kolkata)

• Complaints by Email: org@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.wbcw.co.in/
• Contact No: 033-23595609/ 033-23210154

2. Swayam – West Bengal NGO (https://www.swayam.info/):  033-24863367/ 3368/3357.
3. West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) (Child marriages and trafficking):9830056006, 9836078780, Whatsapp: 9836300300.181