Domestic violence is when a person uses abusive behaviour to control a partner or other family member. The abuse can be physical, emotional, economic, or sexual. It can affect people of any age, sex, culture, or class. When domestic violence is aimed at a child, it is called child abuse. Domestic violence is a crime.
Types of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence can include any of these behaviours:
- Physical abuse, including hitting, kicking, biting, slapping, choking, or attacking with a weapon.
- Sexual abuse, forcing someone to have any type of sexual activity he or she does not want.
- Emotional abuse, including name-calling, humiliation, threats to the person or his or her family, or not letting the person see family or friends.
- Economic abuse, such as controlling access to money or bank accounts.
Signs of Domestic Violence
Most people do not start out in abusive relationships. The abuse often starts slowly and gets worse over time, as the relationship deepens.
Some signs that your partner may be abusive include:
- Wanting most of your time
- Hurting you and saying it is your fault
- Trying to control what you do or whom you see
- Keeping you from seeing family or friends
- Being overly jealous of the time you spend with others
- Pressuring you to do things you do not want to do, such as having sex or doing drugs
- Keeping you from going to work or school
- Putting you down
- Intimidating you or threatening your family or pets
- Accusing you of having affairs
- Controlling your finances
- Threatening to hurt himself or herself if you leave
How to Get Help?
Leaving an abusive relationship is not easy. You may be afraid your partner will harm you if you leave, or that you will not have the financial or emotional support you need.
Domestic violence is not your fault. You cannot stop your partner’s abuse. But you can find ways to get help for yourself.
- Tell someone. The first step in getting out of an abusive relationship is often telling someone else about it. You can talk to a friend, family member, your health care provider, or a clergy member.
- Have a safety plan. This is a plan in case you need to leave a violent situation right away. Decide where you will go and what you will bring. Gather important items you will need, like credit cards, cash, or papers, in case you need to leave quickly. You can also pack a suitcase and keep it with a family member or friend.
- Call for help. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline number. The staff at the hotline can help you find resources for domestic violence in your area, including legal help.
- Get medical care. If you are hurt, get medical care from your provider or in the emergency room.
- Call the police. DO NOT hesitate to call the police if you are in danger. Domestic violence is a crime.
| WOMEN HELPLINE NUMBERS | |
|---|---|
| Women Helpline ( All India ) – Women In Distress | 1091 |
| Women Helpline Domestic Abuse | 181 |
| Police | 100 |
| National Commission For Women (NCW) | 011-26942369, 26944754 |
| Delhi Commission For Women | 011-23378044 /23378317/ 23370597 |
| Outer Delhi Helpline | 011-27034873, 27034874 |
| Student / Child Helpline | 1098 |
| National Human Right Commission | 011-23385368 9810298900 |
| STATE-WISE WOMEN HELPLINE NUMBERS | |
| National Commission for Women | 011-23237166, 23234918 |
| DELHI | |
| Delhi Commission for Women | 011-23379181, 23370597 |
| Delhi Women Protection Cell | 011-24673366 /4156/ 7699 |
| Shakti Shalini (N.G.O) Women Shelter, Support Survivors, Counselling https://shaktishalini.org/ | 011-24373737 011-24373736 10920 |
| ANDHRA PRADESH | |
| Andhra Pradesh – Hyderabad/Secundrabad Police station | 040-27853508 |
| Andhra Pradesh Women Protection cell | 040-23320539 |
| Andhra Pradesh Women Commission | 0863-2329090 |
| Hyderabad Women Police Station | 040-27852400/4852 |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH | |
| Arunachal Pradesh Women Commission’C’ Sector, Ita Nagar | 0360-2214567, 0360-2290544 |
| ASSAM | |
| ASSAM WOMEN HELPLINE | 181, 9345215029, 0361-2521242 |
| ASSAM Women Commission (Website: Click here) | 0361-2227888, 2220150, 2220013 |
| BIHAR | |
| Bihar Women Helpline | 18003456247 / 0612-2320047 / 2214318 |
| Bihar Women Commission ( 1 South, Baily Road, Patna, Bihar ) | 0612- 2507800 |
| CHANDIGARH | |
| Chandigarh Women Police | 0172-2741900 |
| Chandigarh Women Commission | NA |
| CHATTISHGARH | |
| Chattishgarh Women Commission (Gaytri Bhawan, Raipur) http://cgmahilaayog.com/ Email: complaint@cgmahilaayog.com | 0771-2429977, 4013189 18002334299 0771-4241400 |
| GOA | |
| GOA Women Helpline | 1091, 0832-2421208 |
| GOA Women Commission | 0832-2421080 |
| GUJRAT | |
| STATE WOMEN COMMISSION GUJRAT http://www.scwgujarat.org | 18002331111, 079-23251604, 079-23251613 |
| GUJRAT – Ahemdabad Women Group https://www.awagindia.org | 7926441214 |
| GUJRAT – Self Employed Women’s Association http://www.sewa.org/ | 079-25506477 / 25506444 |
| HARYANA | |
| Haryana Women and Child Helpline | 0124-2335100 |
| Helpline for women in Distress | 9911599100 |
| Haryana Women Commission (CADA Bhawan, Sec-4, Panchkula ) | 0172 – 2584039, 0172-2583639 |
| Women and Child Development Department | 0172-2560349 |
| HIMACHAL PRADESH | |
| Himachal Pradesh Women Commission (http://hp.gov.in/hpwomencommission/Home.aspx) H.P. State commission for Women, Himrus Bhawan, Himland Shimla | 9816077100, 0177-2622929 0177-2783607 01892-228072 |
| MAHARASHTRA | |
| Mumbai Railway Police | 9833331111 |
| Mumbai Police Women Helpline No. | 022-22633333, 22620111 |
| Maharashtra Women Commission http://mscw.org.in (Gruha Nirman Bhawan Mhada Bldg., Kalanagar, Bandra ) | 07477722424 022-26592707 |
| Maharashtra Women Helpline | 022-26111103, 1298, 103 |
| MAJLIS – MAHARASHTRA | 022-26661252 / 26662394 |
| Navi Mumbai Police Station | 022-27580255 |
| PUNJAB | |
| Women Helpline Punjab | 1091 / 112 |
| Women Helpline Amritsar City Only | 9781101091 |
| Punjab Women CommissionSCO No:-57,58,59 Sector-17-C, Chandigarh Website: click here | 0172-2712607 0172-2783607 |
| Punjab Samvad (NGO) | 0172- 2546389, 2700109, 276000114 |
| TAMIL NADU | |
| Tamil Nadu Women Helpline | 044-28592750 |
| State Commission for Women WEBSITE: Click Here | 044-28551155 |
| TRIPURA | |
| Tripura Commission for WomenH.G. Basak Road, Melarmath Agartala, West Tripura (http://tcw.nic.in) | 0381-2323355, 2322912 |
| RAJASTHAN | |
| Rajasthan Nirbhaya Helpline | 1800-1200-020 |
| Rajasthan Women Commission | 0141-27790014 |
| Rajasthan Women Helpline | 0141-2744000 |
| Jodhpur Women Helpline | 0291-2012112 |
| KARNATAKA | |
| Banglore Women Police | 080-22943225 |
| Karnataka Women Police | 0821-2418400 |
| Karnataka Women Commission (1st Floor, Karnataka Housing Board Building, Cauvery Bhawan, K.G. Marg, Bangalore-560009) | 080-22100435, 080-22862368, 080-22216485 |
| Mysore Women Police | 0821-2418110, 0821-2418410 |
| WOMEN HELPLINE NGO IN BENGALURU / KARNATAKA 1. Vanitha Sahayavani (Free tele-counselling and police assistance): 100, 080-22943225, 080-22943224 2. Tara Women Centre (NGO Ashraya) – (For Counselling, training, job assistance): 080-25251929 3. Nava Karnataka Mahila Rakshana Vedike: Free legal advice, Police assistance and shelter for women who are a victim of domestic violence – 9490135167 4. Abhayashrama: For Shelter, protection, training, medical assistance: 080-22220834, 080-22121131 5. Vimochana: For Shelter, counselling, medical and job: 080 – 25492781/82 WEBSITE: https://www.vimochana.co.in 6. The South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM): 080-25473922 (free legal advisory by legal professionals) Timings: Monday to Friday: 9.30 am and 5.30 pm 7. Samaja Seva Samithi: Shelter, counselling, dispute resolution and Employment help: 080-26600022/9448945367 | |
| MADHYA PRADESH | |
| Madhya Pradesh Women Commission website: click here | 0755-2661813, 2661802, 2661806, 2661808, 1800-233-6112 |
| Madhya Pradesh Mahila thana | 0731-2434999 |
| KERALA | |
| Kerala Women Police Helpline (Trivandrum) | 9995399953 |
| Kerala Women’s Commission Website: Click here | 0471-2322590, 2320509, 2337589, 2339878, 2339882 |
| State Vanitha Cell | 0471-2338100 |
| Women Cell, Kollam | 0474-2742376 |
| Women Cell, Kochi | 0484-2396730 |
| UTTAR PRADESH | |
| Uttar Pradesh Women Commission (http://mahilaayog.up.nic.in) | 0522-2306403, 18001805220 WhatsApp: 6306511708 |
| Uttar Pradesh Women Helpline | 1090 / 112 |
| WEST BENGAL | |
| West Bengal women commission (Salt Lake City, Kolkata ) Complaints by Email: wbcw.org@gmail.com Website: https://www.wbcw.co.in/ | 033-23595609 033-23210154 |
| Swayam – Westbengal NGO https://www.swayam.info/ | 033-24863367/3368/3357 |
| West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) (Child marriages and trafficking) | 9830056006, 9836078780 Whatsapp: 9836300300 |
| OTHER HELPLINE NUMBERS / ORGANIZATIONS | |
| ALL INDIA WOMEN’S CONFERENCE (Emancipation, Education and Empowerment of Women, Across 10 states) http://www.aiwc.org.in/ | 011-43389100, 011-43389101, 011-43389102, 011-43389103 |
| SNEHA NGO (If you or someone you know is a survivor or facing violence, there is help available) Centre timings ( Mon to Sat, 10 am to 6 pm) https://snehamumbai.org/ | CRISIS HELPLINE: 9833052684, 9167535765 ONE-STOP CRISIS CENTRE AT KEM HOSPITAL: 022-24100511 |
| JAGORI | 011-26692700 |
| SAARTHAK | 011-26853846/26524061 |
| NARI RAKSHA SAMITI | 011-23973949 |
| Lawyers Collective Women’s Rights (Domestic Violence Cases) | 011-24373993/24372923 |
| Pratidhi (Legal help) | 011-22527259 |
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN ( DELHI )
Complaints : 011-26944880, 26944883
Website: http://ncw.nic.in/
LIST OF STATE WOMEN COMMISSIONS
How to Help a Loved one?
If a friend or family member is being abused, there are many ways you can help.
- Offer support. Your loved one may feel scared, alone, or ashamed. Let him or her know you are there to help however you can.
- DO NOT judge. Leaving an abusive relationship is difficult. Your loved one may stay in the relationship despite the abuse. Or, your loved one may leave and return many times. Try to support these choices, even if you do not agree with them.
- Help with a safety plan. Suggest that your loved one make a safety plan in case of danger. Offer your home as a safe zone if he or she needs to leave, or help find another safe place.
- Find help. Help your loved one connect with a national hotline or a domestic violence agency in your area.
Alternative Names
Intimate partner violence; Spousal abuse; Elder abuse; Child abuse; Sexual abuse – domestic violence
