Domestic Violence.

Domestic Violence also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence (IPV), is defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one partner against another in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation. Domestic violence, so defined has many forms including physical aggression or assault like hitting, kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, slapping, throwing objects. or threats thereof; sexual abuse, emotional abuse, controlling or domineering, intimidation, stalking passive/covert abuse e.g., neglect; and economic deprivation. Alcohol consumption and mental illness can be co-morbid with abuse and present additional challenges in eliminating domestic violence. Domestic Violence and abuse is not limited to obvious physical violence but can also mean endangerment, criminal coercion, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, trespassing, harassment, and stalking. Government: the US office of Violence against Women (OVW) defines domestic violence as a "pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another partner" Common Couple Violence (CCV) is not connected to general control behavior but arises in a single argument where one or both partners physically lash out at the other. Intimate Terrorism (IT) may also involve emotional and psychological abuse. IT is one element in a general pattern of control by one partner over the other. IT is less common that CCV more likely to escalate over time. Violence Resistance (VR) sometimes thought of as "self-defense" is violence perpetrated by victims against their abusive partners. Mutual Violence Control (MVC) is rare type of intimate partner violence occurring when both partners act in violent manner battling for control. 1 in every 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. An estimated 1.3 Million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year. 85% of domestic violence victims are women. Females who are 20-24 years of age are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence. Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to the police. In United States 22-25% of American women in their lifetime experience domestic violence. In 2005 1,181 women were murdered by an intimate partner. That is an average of three women every day. Of all the women murdered in the U.S about one third were killed by and intimate partner. Mexico- Between 1999 and 2005 it is believed that more than 6,000 women and girls were murder. That is an average of 1,000 every year, 3 murders a day. Put most graphically a girl or a women is murdered every eight hours, the overwhelming majority of the deaths the result of violence in the household. Japan- Domestic violence in Japan increased 11.7% in 2009 to 28,158 reported cases, the highest since surveys began in 2002 according to the National Police Agency (NPA) the number included 2,429 serous cases where courts issued restraining orders against partners, spouses or other family members under the domestic violence prevention law. A further 1,658 cases of domestic violence were handled under other laws, including 552 assaults,

853 injuries and 44 murders or attempted murders. India- Around two-third of married women in India were victims of domestic violence and one incident of violence translates into women losing seven working days in the country. a United Nations report said. As many as 70% of married women in India between the age of 15 and 49 are victims of beating, rape or coerced sex. the United Population Fund report said. However the rate of domestic violence is much higher in Egypt with 94% and Zambia with 91% the report said violence against women was putting a huge strain on a nations social and legal services and leads to heavy loss of productivity. In India one incident of violence translates into to the women losing 7 working days in the U.S total loss adds up to 12.6 billion dollars annually and Australia loses 6.3 billion per year. What can be done to reduce domestic violence. First, the victims need to know that they have been victims of a crime rather than the inevitable by product of some lovers' tiff. We need to figure out a way to encourage a greater number of victims to come forward. Second, more attention needs to be paid to rehabilitating the aggressors. As figures form American have apparently shown that people who take domestic violence programs are less likely to re-offend. We should make this this a priority of any anti-violence crusade. third, Hot-lines for victims. To many people continue to believe that domestic violence is a private matter between a couple, rather than a criminal offense that merits a strong and swift response. Even today the victim of a domestic assault runs the risk of being asked "what did you do to make your husband angry?" this question implies the victim is to blame for the abuse. We all need a safety plan. Think of all possible escape routes. Choose a place to go. Pack a survival kit. Try to start an individual savings account. Avoid arguments with the abuser in areas with potential weapons. Know the telephone number of a domestic violence hot-line. Review the safety plan monthly. What do you see as the leading contributor to the level of violence expressed by, and tolerated by people in the U.S? The myth suggests that those who commit domestic violence were abused themselves as children. It can be a pattern from the abuser to control or gain power over the victim. Alcohol, drugs. and mental illnesses. Do you think the U.S is a violent country? In my opinion the U.S is a very violent county when it comes to massive school shootings, drugs, crime, and domestic violence, but its the most violent country in the world. REFERENCES:

http://www.now.org/issues/violence/stats.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6470955.stm http://womensphere.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/domestic-violence-in-japan-hits-recordhigh-in-2009/ http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=56501 http://liberalconspiracy.org/2008/12/23/suggestions-to-reduce-domestic-violence/ http://www.dm.usda.gov/shmd/aware.htm http://www.avvo.com/legal-guides/ugc/overview-of-domestic-violence-in-the-us http://voices.yahoo.com/the-usa-worlds-most-violent-industrialized-709667.html?cat=9