Act against domestic violence comes into effect

New Delhi, Oct 26: Women facing violence from husbands, live-in partners and other male relatives can now heave a sigh of relief as an act protecting them from physical violence, emotional torture and mental abuse has come into effect from today.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 provides protection to not only wives, live-in-partners but also sisters, mothers and widows from husbands, male partners, brothers and sons.

Domestic violence under the act includes actual abuse or the threat of abuse whether physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or economic.

Harassment by way of unlawful dowry demands to the woman or her relatives would also be covered under this definition.

Terming the act as historic, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury said that it would provide protection to women from physical violence and abuse from their male relatives and partners.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued notification for enactment of the Act and laying down the rules framed for the implementation of the Act.

UNI