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

In the last decade, several international and national movements have focused their attention, on the long neglected areas of women's reproductive health.

Prior to 1983, every form of violence committed within the family, either in the natal or the spousal home, was not considered an offence.

There is a growing recognition that gynaecological morbidity is an important health problem among poor women in India.