A decade on, the law against domestic violence is toothless
Even after 10 years after it was passed, the domestic violence prevention law has hardly been implemented in most districts of the country. Women, many of whom are regularly physically assaulted by their partners, do not even know that the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2020 (DVPP Act) exists. Legal experts and rights activists have been continuously voicing their concerns over the effectiveness of the law for a decade. In many cases law enforcement agencies and administrative officers did not take complaints seriously and refused to take the cases. Moreover, survivors believe that even if protection orders are given it is hard to enforce them and if they go to the court again with this issue, they are not welcomed.
Recent studies on domestic violence reveal that women mostly prefer to go to union parishad members or chairmen to seek solutions, where they also face victim-blaming, or are sent back to their perpetrators after an unlawful mediation by local administration. Another major concern is the unavailability of local law enforcement officers when the survivors seek support.
The ever-escalating number of domestic violence related incidents in the country demonstrates how ineffectual the law is. Meanwhile, everyday, women get beaten by their husbands, sometimes ending up maimed for life or dead. Societal attitudes towards domestic violence is very indifferent and even enabling, leaving women completely powerless against such violence. Financial insecurity, possibility of losing their children, social stigma associated with being a divorcee or just extreme fear, prevents women from speaking out, let alone file a case. This has to change.
Massive campaigns are needed to raise awareness amongst people on domestic violence, highlighting the existence of the DVPP Act. More field workers need to be trained in order to provide basic information about the law, as well as legal and psychosocial counselling to victims. The legal loopholes that make it difficult to take legal recourse must be removed. We also need to focus on increasing the number of shelters for survivors so that they are not forced to return to their assaulters. Establishing a monitoring cell to regularly check on the progress of trials and ensuring the accountability of relevant court officials will further prove beneficial. At all costs, we strongly demand the empowerment of victims of domestic abuse to seek and get justice.
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