'DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND IT'S CONSEQUENCES ON CHILDREN'

Domestic violence against women in Pakistan and its effect on children;

There are estimated  80 to 90 percent of women in Pakistan who have been suffered from some kind of violence like female genital mutilation, child sexual abuse, forced marriage, honor-based violence, stalking, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation.

Among all kind of abuses one the most common is domestic violence,which usually occurs in large percentage and nearly every house of Pakistan. 

Domestic violence is the less talked and most endemic problem in Pakistan. "According to a study carried out in 2009 by Human Rights Watch, it is estimated that between 20 and 30 percent of women in Pakistan have suffered some form of abuse.
An estimated 5000 women are killed per year from domestic violence, with thousands of others maimed or disabled"

Domestic violence could take the form of physical assault or psychological abuse or sexual, verbal and financial abuses.

Physical assault includes; punching, whipping, biting, choking, restraining and many others.

psychological abuse is the bigger problem than you think and it  includes; thread of abandonment ,ignoring, excessively criticizing, disrespectful attitude,saying bad about some loved one.

domestic violence, victim 

Last year I conducted a survey to Civil Hospital Karachi, where I conducted interviews of different age of women belong to upper middle, middle and lower classes.

This interview was based on questionnaire.
The purpose of my interview was to find out answers of my desired questions about domestic violence through research work and to find out domestic violence against women and its impact on their children. 

Domestic violence doesn't occur only in poor, illiterate middle class families but it is also very common among educated,rich or elite class families.


Domestic violence impact on the development of children and children react to domestic violence:

The data I got from this study showed that result from witnessing domestic violence in a home where one of their parents are abusing the other parent, plays a tremendous role on the well-being and developmental growth of children.
According to them child exposure to domestic violence is recognized as one of important risk factors for the growth of children and building healthy relationships between parents and their children.

Children who live in homes where there is domestic violence grow up in an environment that is unpredictable, filled with depression anxiety and dominated by fear, that can lead to suicide, murder and other bad activities.

Most of them who have been ever abused in front of their Children claimed that their children became angry, hostile or depressed with the period of time and some of the aged women said that their children are doing the same thing with their wives and children which they have been exposed in their childhood. 

What can you do, if you are abused ?

If you're living in violent environment or there is anyone you know is abusive relationship, here following things which you have to do for your safety, because it is better to get up and raise your voice than get a slap.

• Women should empower themselves and they should take some kind of step against it.
• Victims can also take any kind of help from organizations, police or social activists.
• Victims should keep safe their children from witnessing domestic violence.
• Women can go different shelters, domestic violence service agencies to safe themselves and their children.

What are the factors that help children to recover?

There are following elements which can be done to help children who have been witnessed or victimized and currently witnessing domestic violence.  

• The first and most important intervention for children is to address the issues of safety for the family.
• This usually involves working with the victim of violence to discuss the options she/he might consider to increase safety.
• Legal advocacy, shelters, and domestic violence service agencies are good resources for addressing the challenges of safety. 
• It is also important that mental health treatment be provided in a context of comprehensive support for the children and their no offending parent.
• It's responsibility of every individual to provide awareness about domestic violence and safe humanity.  

Thank you

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