Domestic violence against child and its adverse effect on the mental health

Abstract

According to the survey and statistics around the world 33% of the women population experiences Domestic violence .In India the rate of violence against women, wives and girls is high. In 2005 for the first time, Indian law considered domestic violence as a punishable offence and passed PWDVA act. Domestic violence can happen to anyone irrespective of age, gender or caste. It is not only confined to women but can also befall children of age ranging from 2 to 15 years. The extent of this threatening act is comprehensive and vast and involves mental, sexual, economic and physical abuse. Domestic violence against children is less studied and the cases are constricted but children are vulnerable and need to be studied. The mothers or wives are victims and this baleful act not only effects them but to the children who witness such acts daily or experience domestic violence not only at home but sometimes at schools or the workplace . The paper briefly analyses the effect of witnessing and becoming victims to domestic violence on children. This study considers closely the impact of domestic violence on children who do not get the love, warmth and attention of their parents or guardians and thus leads to several severe mental, psychological problems faced by them. It also focuses on the laws made by the Indian laws for their protection.

Keywords:-  Domestic violence, Family violence, substance abuse, children abuse.