National Conference on Public Health Implications of Domestic Violence

[Guest guest]

Home is where the hurt is: A National Conference on Public Health Implications

of Domestic Violence: Feb:10th-11th 2011, New Delhi

Invitation and call for papers.

MAITRI is a humanitarian and developmental NGO based in New Delhi. Its mission

is to establish basic health, promote education and restore human rights to

empower India's vulnerable populations. Maitri defends human rights and

strengthens communities through

individual and community empowerment with advocacy, education, community-based

program development, and networking.

Maitri is committed to improving the quality of life and dignity of the

vulnerable populations it works with, which include: Destitute and marginalised

widows; Migrant workers and their families; Underprivileged children; Members of

uniformed services and their families; Survivors of domestic violence and

Individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS.

Maitri, in collaboration with the Jodhpur School of Public Health, Jodhpur

National University is hosting a national conference on Public Health

Implications of Domestic Violence Feb: 10th- 11th 2011. In New Delhi.

Abstracts of the papers and expression of interests to participate in the

session are invited from researchers, and activists.

The public health implications of domestic violence, is increasingly attracting

the attention of academic, civil society and policy makers. The social

phenomenon, widely known as domestic violence or intimate partner violence is

any form of abusive, violent, coercive, forceful, or threatening act or word

inflicted by one member of a family or household on another.

Domestic violence most often refers to violence between married or cohabiting

couples, although it sometimes refers to violence against other members of a

household, such as children or elderly relatives. It occurs in every racial,

socioeconomic, ethnic, and religious group, although conditions such as poverty,

drug or alcohol abuse, and mental illness increase its likelihood. Studies also

indicate that the incidence of domestic violence among homosexual couples is

approximately equivalent to that found among heterosexual couples.

In the recent years the definition of domestic violence has been expanded to

include, saying unkind or demeaning words, to grabbing a person's arm, to

hitting, kicking, choking, or even murdering. In the Indian context, social

attitudes towards domestic violence are changing. In 1983, domestic violence was

recognised as a specific criminal offence by the introduction of section 498-A

into the Indian Penal Code, deals with cruelty by a husband or his family

towards a married woman.

Subsequently the Domestic Violence Act 2005, provided a comprehensive definition

of domestic violence. The law defines Domestic Violence in broader terms, which

includes specific definitions of physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal and

emotional abuse and economic abuse. Though, domestic violence is increasingly

perceived as a criminal offence, very limited attention has been made on the

public health implications of Domestic Violence.

Globally, abuse by an intimate partner is the most common form of violence

against women with great public health implications. The WHO (2005) study

presents data on the prevalence of intimate partner violence and its association

with women's physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health. Data is included

on non-partner violence, sexual abuse during childhood and forced first sexual

experience Domestic violence against women may take place at any time of the

lifecycle. Research reports indicates that the public health implications of

domestic violence during the pregnancy and child birth has disproportionate

health burden on women.

This conference is a call for greater research and civil society action to

address the public health burden of Domestic Violence and mitigating it's impact

on the health and well being of women and children. The two-day session, guided

by a scientific committee will explore conceptual, methodological and possible

actions, may develop recommendations to strengthen national commitment and

action on violence against women and it's public health implications. Some of

the specific issues to be explored in this conference are:

Domestic Violence in India and its Public Health Implications

Domestic Violence and HIV infection

Domestic Violence and Health Sector Response

Domestic Violence and Civil Society response in General

Domestic Violence and Law o Domestic Violence among Uniformed

Services and the Coping Mechanism

Support Service to mitigate the Public Health burden of Domestic Violence

Registration fee: Rs 1,500 (Conference materials, Lunch and Tea)

Scholarship: Limited scholarships are available in the form of travel

assistance, registration fee waiver and assistance with accommodation.

Please contact the organizing secretary at the earliest.

Contact details

Ms. Sonal Singh Wadhwa

E-mail: Sonal.singh@...

J-92, Anant Ram Dairy Complex, R.K. Puram, Sector 13,

New Delhi, 110066, INDIA

Ph: +91-11-6517-8288, +91-11-6517-8288

Tele-fax: +91-11-2412-2692, +91-11-2412-2692