STOPP ! Domestic violence

Domestic violence is an alarming issue in Pakistan. As reported by the HRCP in 2020, over 90% of Pakistani women have faced domestic violence in their lifetime.

Risk factors behind domestic violence were identified as; poverty, the influence of in-laws, second marriage, stepchildren, forceful intimate relationships, husband’s irresponsibility, and addiction, and handicapped children.

Domestic violence is defined as the supremacy exploited by one adult in a relationship to control another . It is not simply an argument, but the abuser uses physical and sexual violence, emotional emotional offences, and economic denial against women. It is a global issue, which is prevalent throughout nations, socio-economic classes, cultures, and race.

Distressing impacts of domestic violence are limited not only to physical injuries but contribute to the ill health of women and weak psychological and emotional wellbeing.

Victims of intimate partner violence reported the increasingly adverse effects on their mental health.

Depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and anxiety as compared to those who never experienced intimate partner violence.

Domestic violence is linked with many mental disorders such as; anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, and even psychosis.

Specific to the Pakistani context, the identified risk factors associated with domestic violence against women were; women’s low education and low empowerment, miss concepts of Islamic reflections and customary norms such as justifying honor killing, and poverty and the prevalent custom of the undue-traditional dowry system in Pakistan. Another study reported in-laws, disobedience and arguments with husband, husbands’ addiction, extra marital relationship and infertility as risk factors of domestic violence.

Domestic violence should be stopped at all costs to prevent damage to lives of women.