Domestic violence is a problem that affects the lives of many women both in the urban and the rural areas. It is also an episode that has been found to recur throughout the life cycle of women and has extensive repercussions.

The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1993, defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm, or suffering to women

This study is an attempt to broaden the discussion about the prevention of domestic violence against women informed by a rights based strategy.

DEVELOPMENT is about protection of human rights of the concerned populations. It pre-supposes active participation of the populace in the decisionmaking processes while social justice remains one of the most important and cherished goals of development.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA) is an Indian law enacted to safeguard women from domestic violence within familial or domestic relationships.