More than 90% of women, according to the HRCP 2020 report, are subjected to domestic violence. This is not only physical but takes several forms: psychological, economic, sexual, emotional and verbal. Despite being one of the most pervasive forms of violence against women, domestic abuse remains one of the least understood. To the legal system, domestic violence resembles a ball of yarn: pull one thread, and countless others unravel with it. This article uncovers those threads and raises an important question: can the law alone ever be enough to combat domestic violence?

The first obstacle that victims of domestic violence face is the troubling reality of police indifference. For many women, going to a police station to report abuse means being told that it is a “private matter”, “ghar ka mamla” or “chadar aur char deewari”. Rarely are FIRs registered, and even when they are, no action is taken. This also raises an important question: should domestic violence be treated as a crime at all? Or should it only be a civil wrong? Except Punjab, all provinces have categorised it as an offence. Criminalisation undoubtedly sends a strong message that the state will not tolerate domestic abuse. More importantly, it also transforms........

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