Defenses Against Domestic Violence

Available services and challenges
Various laws have been enacted for the protection and
empowerment of women in India. These include:
1. The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
2. The Criminal Law (Second Amendment) Act, 1983
3. The Dowry Prohibition (maintenance of list of
presents to the bride and bridegroom) Rules, 1985
4. The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition)
Act, 1986
5. The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987
6. The National Commission for Women Act,1990
7. National Policy for the Empowerment of Women,
2001
8. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence
Act, 2005
9. Prevention of Offences (by acids) Act, 2008
Most services currently available for victims of domestic
violence are on the legal front. The main focus is on the
secondary and tertiary levels of prevention. The victim
faces numerous health problems, which not only affect
her, but also the immediate family. Yet, there is a lack of
public health-oriented approach. There is also a relative
lack of recognition of the problems faced by these women
among health care professionals.
A couple of challenges pose difficulties in identifying
solutions for domestic violence. First, there is inaccuracy
in identifying and quantifying the victims of domestic
violence because of the absence of operational definitions
adapted for India, incomparability of existing data, and
the gender norms preventing women from seeking help.
Second, the situation is complicated by the multi-factorial
determinants of domestic violence, viz., individual,
community and societal factors.