The plight of women in India is becoming pathetic day by day. Virtues such as education, awareness and economic security are unable to come to the aid of women who are in distress. The major aim of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 is to provide protection to the wife or female live-in partner from any kind of violence at the hands of the husband or male live-in partner or his relatives. The law under the Act also provides protection to women who are sisters, widows or mothers. Domestic violence under the act includes actual abuse or the threat of abuse whether physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or economic.

Manu, the great law-giver, said long ago, “Where women are honored there reside the gods.” According to ancient Hindu scriptures, no religious rite could be performed by a man perfectly without the active participation of his wife – his wife’s participation being essential to any religious rite.

Domestic violence is undoubtedly a human rights issue and a serious deterrent to the development of a nation. This particular Act has been enacted in keeping with the various guidelines given by several International conventions and declarations. The Vienna Accord of 1994, the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action 1995 have acknowledged this. The United Nations Committee on Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in its General Recommendation No. XII (1989) has also recommended that State parties should act to protect women against violence of any kind especially that occurring within the family.

Law Review Journal, Protection, Protection of Women, A Critical Appraisal, The United Nations Committee, Convention on Elimination, All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Lawyers Collective Women’s Rights Initiative (LCWRI).