5 FACTS everyone must know about Domestic Violence

I would request you all to take a few minuets to educate yourself about the true scope of Domestic Violence....
Abuse is common : A generation ago, abuse victims were often terrified of coming forward, worried that they would appear weak or be blamed for their abuse. Thanks to the growth of the women's movement and the victim's rights movement, as well as the lobbying of millions of advocates across the globe, we now know how common domestic violence is.
Both men and women can be victims: Domestic violence outreach campaigns often focus on women, but both men and women can be and are victims of domestic violence. One study found that 40% of domestic violence victims are men. So while domestic violence against men does happen and is a serious problem, women remain the primary victims.
Abuse victims face a culture of blame: It's not just male domestic-violence survivors who find their stories disregarded. Myths about domestic violence are common, particularly among those most likely to abuse their partners. For instance, it's common to hear some people say that, if hit, they will hit back, and so women who slap their partners should expect whatever violence the partners dish back out. These thoughts support a culture of abuse and victim-blaming.
Leaving isn't as easy as it seems: Domestic violence survivors are often asked why they don't leave. But consider this: How would you feel about leaving your partner? As difficult as it may be to admit, domestic violence relationships still offer their victims something, such as financial security or a relationship with a person they love.
Responding to abuse can be challenging:  It's not easy to know what to do when someone you love is in an abusive relationship; confronting the abuser is rarely the solution.

Break the violence.

Get involved.

Save a friend.

Save a life.

Empower and free a human being.

Verbal Abuse

When someone disrespects you,

beware the impulse to win their respect.

For disrespect is not a valuation of your worth but a signal of their character...

Verbal abuse is when a person forcefully criticizes, insults, or denounces someone else. Characterized by underlying anger and hostility, it is a destructive form of communication intended to harm the self-concept of the other person and produce negative emotions.

A child as young as two can be affected by verbal abuse. Mistreatment during infancy and early childhood negatively affect early brain development and can have a long term effect into their adolescence and adulthood. The experiences we live through infancy and early childhood provide a framework for the expression of children's intelligence, emotions and personalities. When those experiences are primarily negative, children may build up emotional, behavioral and learning problems that carry on during their lifetime.

Verbal abuse is unacceptable. It is not proper. No one has the right to verbally abuse others. While verbal abuse does not leave noticeable bruises on the child's body, it does leave wounds on the heart and spirit of the child. 

It is easier to build up child than it is to repair an adult...

Choose your words wisely...

Many people think that child abuse is either physical or sexual maltreatment. But actually, most of the time, a child may suffer by the means of verbal abuse. Little does an abuser know that name calling, rejecting, threatening, blaming, and using sarcasm are examples of verbal child abuse. This may cause different effects to a child. One may be an abuser in the future or may have a low self esteem.

No child deserves to be subjected to verbal abuse. Instead, every child deserves to hear praises and encouragements from the authority figures in their life.

Child Sexual Abuse: A Bitter Chocolate

When something bad happens, you have 3 choices:

You can either let it define you,

Let it destroy you,

Or you can let it strengthen you...

It is a fact that millions of girls and boys worldwide are being sexually abused within homes and outside. They are abused by families and known persons. The perpetrator can be anyone who exploits the child's vulnerability to gain sexual gratification. It involves mental, physical and emotional abuse of a child through overt and covert sexual acts, gestures and disposition - when informed consent or resistance by the child victim to such acts is not possible. It can also include activities which do not involve direct touching.

A form of child sexual abuse in India are child marriages. In Rajasthan on Akshya Tritiya day which is popularly known as the Akha Teej, hundreds of child marriages are openly performed. The sexual abuse of children not only has damaging and long-term impact on the victim, but also affects the families, communities, and society at large. Like any crime that continues to go unchecked, the sexual abuse of children- both within our homes and outside is an issue of grave concern and directly suggests the health of a society as a whole.

Protection of children from sexual offences act 2012:

• The Act defines a child as any person below the age of 18 years and provides protection to all children under the age of 18 years from the offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography.
• This is the first time that an Act has listed aspects of touch as well as non touch behavior under the ambit of sexual offences.
• The Act also provides for punishment for abatement of the offence, which is the same as for the commission of the offence. This would cover trafficking of children for sexual purposes.
• The media has been barred from disclosing the identity of the child without the permission of the Special Court.

 Break the silence 

to end sexual abuse against children !!!

It's our prime duty to protect these child victims. These children are the future of our country. Their protection is only in our hands.

Save child ! Save Future !

Dating Abuse

You are not stupid.

You are not a punching bag.

You are not dependent on anyone but yourself.

You are not his cure.

You are not inferior.

You are not alone.

Dating abuse which is also known as dating violence is defined as the perpetration or threat of an act of violence by at least one member of an unmarried couple on the other member within the context of dating or courtship. It is also when one partner tries to maintain power and control over the other through violence. This abuse/violence can take a number of forms: sexual assault, sexual harassment, threats, physical violence, verbal, mental, or emotional abuse, social sabotage, and stalking. It can include psychological abuse, emotional blackmail, sexual abuse, physical abuse and psychological manipulation.

Love is not abuse.!!!

Break the cycle..!!!!

What can you do?
» Do not suffer in silence. Tell your friend, parent, teacher or counselor.

» Make sure you are safe if the relationship is physically abusive, but definitely end it.

» Make healthy choices before getting into a relationship.

» Be aware of and do not ignore danger signals.

» Do not blame yourself or feel guilty. It is not your fault. The abuser is the only one responsible for the violence.

What can parents do?
Educate yourself about the consequences of abusive relationships. Remember that as the guardian, you need to model respectful behavior in relationships. Look out for warning signs of abuse in your teen. Be supportive and help her/him end the abusive relationship in a safe way. Parents, school and college authorities should develop strategies to protect teens from dating violence as well as model and promote positive and healthy relationships.

Child Labor : A form of Domestic Violence

There is no reason,

There is no excuse

CHILD LABOR is CHILD ABUSE

India is sadly the home to the largest number of child laborers in the world. 
Poverty and lack of social security are the main causes of child labor. The increasing gap between the rich and the poor, privatization of basic services and the neo-liberal economic policies are causes major sections of the population out of employment and without basic needs. This adversely affects children more than any other group.  Lack of quality universal education has also contributed to children dropping out of school and entering the labor force. Child labor is highest among schedules tribes, Muslims, schedule castes and OBC children.
A major concern is that the actual number of child laborers goes un-detected. Laws that are meant to protect children from hazardous labor are ineffective and not implemented correctly.
A growing phenomenon is using children as domestic workers in urban areas. The conditions in which children work is completely unregulated and they are often made to work without food, and very low wages, resembling situations of slavery. There are cases of physical, sexual and emotional abuse of child domestic workers. The argument for domestic work is often that families have placed their children in these homes for care and employment.

Bonded Labor 

Bonded child labor is a hidden phenomenon as a majority of them are found in the informal sector. Bonded labor means the employment of a person against a loan or debt or social obligation by the family of the child or the family as a whole. It is a form of slavery. Children who are bonded with their family or inherit a debt from their parents are often found in agricultural sector.
They mostly come from low caste groups such as dalits or marginalized tribal groups. Bonded child laborers are at very high risk for physical and sexual abuse and neglect sometimes leading to death. They often are psychologically and mentally disturbed and have not learnt many social skills or survival skills.
So it's not just the women who become victim of domestic violence, in our country children too suffer from domestic violence. 

World revolves around the children, 

Children's future revolves around education.

STOP CHILD LABOR !!!

Violence Against Women: An Unfinished Agenda

It's hard at first... really hard.

You may even question if leaving was the right decision.

It was the right decision.

After the shock, when the fog lifts, things will start to get easier...

Domestic violence is a burden on numerous sectors of the social system and quietly, yet dramatically, affects the development of a nation. 

Domestic violence is a global issue reaching across national boundaries as well as socio-economic, cultural, racial and class distinctions. This problem is not only widely dispersed geographically, but its incidence is also extensive, making it a typical and accepted behavior. Domestic violence is wide spread, deeply ingrained and has serious impacts on women's health and well-being.
In simple words, Domestic violence can be described as the power misused by one adult in a relationship to control another. It is the establishment of control and fear in a relationship through violence and other forms of abuse.

As a victim of Domestic Violence you live in a constant state of alertness and anticipation waiting for the next attack to occur...

Domestic violence is the most common form of violence against women. It affects women across the life span from sex selective abortion of female fetuses to forced suicide and abuse, and is evident, to some degree, in every society in the world.
Domestic violence against women is an age old phenomenon. Women were always considered weak, vulnerable and in a position to be exploited
The gender imbalance in domestic violence is partly related to differences in physical strength and size. Moreover, women are socialized into their gender roles in different societies throughout the world.
 Husbands who batter wives typically feel that they are exercising a right, maintaining good order in the family and punishing their wives.