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When we consider the daily reports in the electronic media, television, radio, and print media as well as the many incidents that are brought to our attention it is blatantly clear that wives and children are being subjected to many difficulties and remain vulnerable. I have personally handled many cases of victims who have been injured due to domestic violence.

We can define domestic violence as such: physical, mental, sexual, and economic abuse caused by hurtful or unwanted behavior, perpetrated by one member of a household against another.

The Domestic Violence Act provides special protection to wives and children in vulnerable situations, especially against the cruelties that happen domestically and even against continuing harassment. There are also special provisions that enable parties to take even legal action. When I deal with the victims, the wives who were subjected to domestic violence, I recognize that this is one of the major problems that exist in our country. Almost all cases of abuse require hospitalization and sadly there are but a few of the actual number as the vast majority of the victims hide their abuse under the carpet and, as a result, suffer alone.

Moreover, many people consider domestic violence a personal grievance and they say it is a dispute between husband and wife within the family. Then they do not consider it as a crime. And many of those who have experienced domestic violence do not want to expose their experience in public.

The reasons for not taking action against an abusive spouse are many: economic, cultural, and most importantly, insufficient protection for victims.