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When Male are Victims of Domestic Violence
Author: MUGDHA, LLB (SIX SEMESTER), LLC Greater Noida
When we discuss domestic violence, it is often assumed that “the victims are women”. The less-told story is that a striking number of men are victims too, suffering physical, mental and sexual abuse in both heterosexual and same-sex relationships.
Domestic violence is abuse by one partner against another in an intimate relationship such as dating, marriage, cohabitation or a familiar relationship. Domestic violence is also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, dating abuse . Domestic violence can be physical, emotional, verbal, economic an sexual abuse Domestic violence can be subtle, coercive or violent. In India, 70% of women are victims of domestic violence.
Approx 40% of Indian men admit they have mentally abused their partners. The Indian government has taken measures to try to reduce domestic violence through legislation such as PROTECTION OF WOMEN AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
But what about men then? What about there protection?
Men assaulted by their partners are often ignored by police they don’t consider this as serious offence. A Victim of domestic abuse is still a victim no matter the gender of the attacker. Most of the time the men’s remain silent because of the society, as the know that how the society is going to react .Various countries have identified it as a serious offence. In many countries the protection against domestic violence is given to both MEN and WOMEN.
However the point to be noted here is that the Section 498 A is the most misused law in India. As the apex court that is the supreme court itself stated that “ no automatic arrest is sec 498A ’’.As many of these cases filed against men using these section are false and no actions are usually taken against women even if they are proven wrong. This is one of the major factors for married Men’s suicide in India which comes to 1 in every 9 minutes.
Highlighting these statistics is not meant to downplay in any way domestic violence among women. It is, however, intended to add to the growing conversation that anyone can be the victim of domestic abuse and everyone who needs protection deserves access to it.
MEASURES :
You don’t need video evidence before the police. Start keeping a log of all instances of abusive actions taken by your partner, and be as specific as possible with dates, places, times, what happened, and the names of any witnesses( if possible). Taking photos whenever possible. If you feel unsafe having this information in your home, ask a trusted friend or family member to keep it in a secure place in their home. In the event you call the police, or someone else call to report an incident, producing this kind of evidence can be a powerful tool to clarify the situation for the police. Yes, female abusers may falsely claim that they were only fighting back in self-defense, or in a same-sex relationship, the other male partner may claim it was a mutual argument that got out of hand. The police understand these kinds of tactics and are trained to do their job to assess the incident and take the correct action. You can help them by being up front with what has been happening in your relationship.
“It is challenging to accept that a woman who is naturally weaker than a man is able to assault a partner or contribute to domestic violence against men”.
CONCLUSION:
Many men don’t seek help for domestic abuse because they fear that it will make them look weak. There are few actions that require as much bravery as walking away from an abusive relationship then to stay in it .To recognize that you are in need of help and then take the steps needed, it is not weakness. It’s a sign of strength.
There is no doubt that domestic violence against men can be reduced; the domestic violence initiatives have brought a “hidden crime to light”. The next step is to admit that domestic violence is not a male or female problem, but rather a human problem, and that a lasting solution must address the cruelty — and suffering — of both sexes.
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Disclaimer:
This Article was prepared or accomplished by MUGDHA from LLC, Greater Noida ( LLB Six Sem.) in her personal capacity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of the LawOF.in
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