DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AROUND THE WORLD

Domestic violence is also known as domestic abuse, spouse abuse, family violence, and intimate partner violence. This is a pattern of behaviour which involves the abuse by one partner in intimate relationships, such as marriage, dating, cohabitation or within the family.

The most common form of domestic violence is beating  but there are other forms of domestic violence which are stalking, domineering, aggression, or assault, emotional abuse, economical deprivation, kidnapping to mention a few.

Domestic violence is unacceptable by most people and most developed countries frown at it, United State and other European countries rigorously enforce criminal law against it and this has become a standard policy in western countries.

 

Traditionally, in most cultures men has a legal right to use violence to ‘discipline’ their wives but this has been generally condemned and it is now seen as a criminal offense considering the number of women that have lost their lives in the cause of domestic violence.

The social view of domestic violence varies from person to person, and region to region. In some countries the concept is poorly understood especially in those countries where the relation between the husband and wife is not considered one of equal.

India was named one of the worst countries in the world for domestic violence in the year 2012 when its report found that 57% of Indian boys and 53% of Indian girls think wife beating is justified.

In Afghanistan one of the justifications for domestic violence is for the man to beat his wife for inappropriate clothes.

74% of women in Mali are instructed before marriage that sex with their husband is their absolute duty and they do not have a right to refuse it even if they do not want it. This is a sufficient ground for domestic violence in Mali.

One of the greatest effect of DV is an increase in acknowledgement that a child who is exposed to domestic violence during their upbringing will suffer developmental and psychological welfare .Children who witnesses mother assault are most likely to exhibit symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.

What are the causes of domestic violence?

Poverty: most women are not financially independent compared to men; most men see this as an excuse to abuse women.

 Literacy: female literacy is below the national average of 54.6% 

In 2007 the Lagos state House of Assembly passed a law to provide protection against domestic violence.

It is important for every woman to say NO to domestic violence, and the only way to curb this is by reporting cases of DV to relevant authorities by so doing you are not just  bringing the person to book but it will also serve as deterrent to those who intend to abuse women in future.

Remember you have a right to good life; this is enshrined in the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria.

All cases of domestic violence should be reported to the Nigerian Police and a legal practitioner.

Thank you.

Oyenike Alliyu-Adebiyi Llb(hons)Bl