Domestic violence is violence committed by someone in the victim’s domestic circle. This includes partners and ex- partners, immediate family members , other relatives and family friends. The term ‘domestic violence’ is used when there is a closed relationship between the offender and the victim. Domestic violence is violence or other abuse that occur in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. It can assume multiple forms, including physical , verbal, emotional, economic, religious, reproductive, or sexual abuse. It can range from subtle, coercive forms to marital rape and other violence physical abuse, such as choking , beating, female genital mutilation, and acid throwing that may result in disfigurement or death, and include the use of technology to harass, control, monitor , stalk or hack.
People affected by domestic violence can feel scared, anxious, have trouble sleeping, have trouble concentrating, lose confidence and feel isolated. If you living in an abusive relationship, you might find yourself changing your behaviour or avoiding certain topics around the person. Globally, the victim of domestic violence are overwhelmingly women, and women tend to experience more severe forms of violence. Research has established that there exists a direct and significant correlation between a country’s level of gender equality and rates of domestic violence, where countries with less gender equality experience higher rates of domestic violence. Women ages 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 generally experience the highest rates of intimate partner violence. Physical abuse can cause many chronic health problems, including heart problems, high blood pressure, and digestive problems. Women who are abused are also more likely to develop depression, anxiety, or eating disorders. Women who are abused may also misuse alcohol or dugs as a way to cope.
In abuse relationships, there may be a cycle of abuse during which tension is rise and an act of violence is committed, followed by a period of reconcillation and calm. The victims may be a tapped in domestically violent situations through isolation, power and control, traumatic bonding to the abuser, cultural acceptance, lack of a financial resources, fear, and shame, or to protect children. As a result of abuse, victims may be experience physical disabilities, dysregulated aggression, chronic health problems mental illness, limited finance, and a poor ability to create healthy relationships. Victims may experience severe psychological disorders, such as post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).children who live in a household with violence often show psychological problems from an early age, such as avoidance, hypervigilance to threats and dysregulated aggression, which may contribute to vicaries traumatization.
Emotional abuse includes that undermining a person sense of self- worth through constant criticism ; belittling one’s abilities; name-calling or other verbal abuses damaging a partner’s relationship with the children; or not letting a partner see friends and family. Understand that the domestic abuse is not only against the united nations code of conduct, but you may be subject to criminal prosecuation under the law that is applicable in the duty station where you work.