Are you a survivor?

Are you a victim of domestic violence? If you think that you are a victim of domestic violence, read through the following section to see what domestic violence is. You don’t have to be a victim any longer. We also give tips about what to do if you are a victim of domestic violence as well as the below helplines and counseling centers in your area

You can download these questions and answers as a PDF for your quick reference or to be used in training. Distribute it to make sure that the women in your life know what they can do in the face of violence.

  1. How do I know if I am facing domestic violence?
  2. What can I do if I am a victim of domestic violence?
  3. What are the legal rights of domestic abuse victims?
  4. How can I get more information about domestic violence?
  5. I am ready to get help. What do I do now? (DV)
  6. I have already tried to get out of the situation. My family and my husband’s family refuse to help me. What do I do?
  7. I feel uncomfortable talking to a stranger about my problems. Who can help me?

1. How do I know if I am facing domestic violence?Back to top ↑

You are facing domestic violence if the answer to any of the follow is yes:
Does your partner:

  • Hit, punch, slap, choke or shove you?
  • Destroy personal property?
  • Prevent you from seeing friends and family?
  • Insult you in public and/or in private?
  • Control your finances
  • Show extreme jealousy or accuse you of infidelity?
  • Force you to have sex against your will?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, keep reading below and find out what you can do to put an end to the violence in your life.

2. What can I do if I am a victim of domestic violence?Back to top ↑

Develop a safety plan to identify options and reduce your risk when confronted with the threat of harm or actual harm. Some of the basic pointers for safety plans:

  • Seek out support. You don’t have to suffer alone. Inform people close to you (family, friends, and neighbors) about your situation so they are prepared to react to suspected violence.
  • Try to start an individual savings account as an economic safety net. Have statements sent to a trusted relative or friend.
  • Put together an emergency bag with keys, money, medicine and important papers such as birth certificates, education certificates, ration card/election card, passports (yours and your children’s), bank details, personal identification, health records, and insurance papers.
  • Plan an emergency exit route from home and work, and learn safe places to go for help and support in case of emergency. Please see the helplines page for more information.
  • Talk to your children about what they should do if a violent incident occurs. Teach children the address of your house, relevant emergency phone numbers, and the name of their grandparents in case of an emergency.
  • Try and remove/hide all weapons from your home.
  • Consider obtaining a protective order from magistrate or police
  • Take photographs or keep medical records of your scars and keep them in a safe hiding place; show them to friends/doctors.
  • Sometimes it is safer to get out of the home. Don’t panic; make sure you are safe first.
  • Call for police, medical attention, get legal help and counseling for yourself and your children.

3. What are the legal rights of domestic abuse victims?Back to top ↑

In 2005, the government of India passed new legislation on domestic violence called the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 (PWDVA). It is a civil law aimed at providing relief to million of women including wives, mothers, daughters and sisters affected by violence in their homes.

Through the PWDVA, affected women are entitled to

  • Protection: The magistrate can pass orders to stop the offender from
    • Aiding or committing violence within and outside the home
    • Communicating with the woman
    • Taking away her assets
    • Intimidating her family and those assisting her against the violence
  • Residence: The woman cannot be evicted form the shared household.
  • Monetary relief and maintenance: She is entitled to maintenance, including loss of earnings, medical expenses, and damage to property.
  • Compensation: She can claim damages for mental and physical injuries.
  • Custody: The court can grant her temporary custody of children.
  • Interim order/ex parte order: The court can pass an interim order to prevent violence before the final order. In the absence of the other party to the dispute, an Ex Parte order can be passed.
  • Legal service: Women have the right to free legal services under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987

4. How can I get more information about domestic violence?Back to top ↑

  • Visit www.helpguide.org, which gives more helpful tips on how to get help, treatment, intervention, and prevention.
  • Click here for some more of the warning signs of domestic violence in the home.
  • Here is some useful advice for women, although it targets American women, the site emphasizes a woman’s strengths. You are not just a victim, you are a person with rights that must be protected!

5. I am ready to get help. What do I do now? (DV)Back to top ↑

The first thing you should do is to file a complaint. To file a complaint you have to fill in a DIR form, available with NGO service porviders, protection officers and select women’s police stations.That shall help you in case of legal action has to be taken.
Apart from this you should try and speak to the protection officer of your area to get more information.

There are also certain things you could ensure like, your bank account details are in your possession, your passport, photo i card are with you. You have sufficient money in your hand to get out of the home and get a conveyance.

6. I have already tried to get out of the situation. My family and my husband’s family refuse to help me. What do I do?Back to top ↑

The first thing you should do is to file a complaint. To file a complaint you have to fill in a DIR form, available with NGO service porviders, protection officers and select women’s police stations.That shall help you in case of legal action has to be taken.
Please remember, this a civil law and not a criminal law. No one can be put behind bars after a complaint. Only when any order has been violated, can they be put behind bars. So you may try to also speak to your family and tell them that its only a law that shall provide the women facing volence a safe space.
Speak to your friends, tell them about the situation. Always remember, if you have realised that this is wrong and your rights are being violated, most of the battle is won.

7. I feel uncomfortable talking to a stranger about my problems. Who can help me?Back to top ↑

Hi ! You have already helped yourself by expressing a desire to try to do something. I believe it is extremely frightening to just open up about ones personal worries and speak to anyone. That is why there are phone help lines. These helplines are run by professional counselors and trainers who are adept in handing these issues and believe me there are a lot of women out there who are facing these issues. Through these you do not have to come face to face with anyone. You do not have to say your real name. To the counselor on the other side, you are just a voice. You can speak to them.Your identity does not have to be revealed. So please call up a help line numeber. They are there to guide and assist you.