Background

In India, where deep-rooted sociocultural norms and skewed power dynamics continue to shape gendered dynamics, domestic violence remains a pervasive and deeply entrenched issue. Within the Indian legal framework, which is aligned with international law in this context, domestic violence involves a pattern of behavior on the part of an individual to assert and maintain control over their intimate partner. This includes both physical and verbal actions, because domestic violence manifests not just as physical and sexual violence that inflicts bodily harm, but also as emotional and economic violence which serve to limit women’s agency and autonomy. 

Despite there being strong legal mechanisms in place, domestic violence cases continue to project a concerning trajectory. Some of the possible inferences that scholars have noted in the context of India take into account the difference in social position that is perceived between a man and a woman, an existing perception about the woman as the ‘home-maker’ and ‘submissive partner’, and men’s need to dominate the domestic space physically, and economically. These factors continue to impact the domestic space, producing serious threats to the physical, mental, emotional, and economic well-being of women. Despite the fact that the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005 offers women legal protection for women against any form of violence within the family, cases of domestic violence continue to be on the rise. According to the National Family Health Survey of India, 32% of married women between 18-49 years of age have been subject to spousal violence. It is fair to assume that these numbers are not indicative of the actual number of cases, given how so many women do not report domestic violence, for fear of shame and stigma, as well as because of the absence of proper legal aid and financial security. These numbers reveal the extent to which this issue haunts women across urban, semi-urban, and rural areas.

It is to address this fatal concern that the Safe & Sound project has adopted a multi-pronged approach that would not only work to safeguard survivors of domestic violence but would also provide legal, psychosocial, and educational support so that the survivors are able to restart their lives on their own terms.