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Domestic Violence


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Abusive Relationships


  • Any form of abuse used to gain control over another person is domestic violence
  • Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, psychological or financial.
  • Immigration policies include special provision for DV victims
  • 24/7 Hotlines serve as a good first point of contact
  • There are a number of national and state organizations that can help victims

If your relationship is developing a pattern of some sort of abuse, you may be a victim of domestic violence (DV). If one intimate partner is using coercion, threats, physical violence, intimidation, isolation, emotional or any other type of abuse to control the other partner, it is classified as domestic violence.

While many people like to believe "it could never happen to me", in fact domestic abuse can happen to anyone in any part of the world. People of any nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender or economic status can become domestic violence victims. Domestic abuse has been known to occur in same sex relationships as well as opposite sex relationships.

According to data from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence General Information Packet (2007), almost 95% of DV victims are women. Of the women in intimate relationships, more than half are likely to experience physical violence at some point in their relationship and for about 24-30% of these women, this violence and battering is likely to be ongoing.

 

Most abusers are men and while big, loud aggressive men seem like the stereotypical abusers, even small, quiet, unassuming men can be abusive.

 

If you have children and are living in a poisonous abusive environment, this could affect their well being as well. They are not only traumatized by the abuse, but they are at risk of becoming victims of the abuser as well. Long term exposure to an abusive relationship can lead to severe psychological and social problems for the child. Some studies also say that boys who grow up in an abusive environment are likely to become abusers as well but this is not true in all cases.

 

Abuse isn’t always limited to being physical alone and any sort of abuse in a relationship is an instant deal breaker. Domestic violence can include physical, emotional, sexual, economic and psychological abuse.


  • Physical Abuse
    If your partner is doing any of the following – hitting, slapping, shoving, grabbing, biting, pinching, hair pulling etc, it qualifies as physical abuse. In addition, if you are refused medical care or are being forced to use alcohol or drugs, you are a victim of physical abuse.
  • Sexual Abuse
    Any sexual contact without consent qualifies as sexual abuse. Remember, being married does not automatically give your partner the right to force sexual contact. Marital rape, intimidating one to force into having sex, forcing a victim to perform sexual acts on another person, forcing a victim to pose for sexually explicit photographs or simply just treating a victim in a manner that is sexually derogatory counts as sexual abuse.
  • Economic Abuse
    When one partner makes the other partner financially dependent on them as a means to gain control over them, it is known as economic abuse. Victims are often forbidden from gaining employment and are denied access to anyone or anything that may be a potential source of money.
  • Emotional Abuse
    While physical, sexual or economic abuse is easier to spot, victims of emotional and psychological abuse often have trouble, admitting even to themselves that they may be victims of DV. Emotional abuse involves undermining a person’s self worth and self esteem, name calling, belittling the person, emotional blackmail etc.
  • Psychological Abuse
    Psychological abuse is similar to emotional abuse but is more about causing fear by intimidating the victim. Threats of physical harm, threats to hurt children, isolating the victim from friends and family, destruction of property etc constitute as psychological abuse.


In the unfortunate event that you or your family becomes victims of domestic violence, you should seriously consider getting help. If you are married and living overseas, it is possible to separate from your abusive spouse and keep your visa and legal immigrant status. The United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada all have domestic violence provisions in their immigration policy to protect immigrants who are subjected to domestic abuse.

Getting Help

  • Immigration Help

    • There is no need to stay in an abusive relationship to keep your visa or permanent resident status, the law is on your side. You can leave your abusive spouse and keep your legal status or continue with applications for permanent residency.

  • U.S Info – The Women’s Law website has plenty of useful information and resources.
  • Canadian Info – The Citizenship and Immigration Department of Canada
  • UK Info – Information on the Home Office’s UK Border Agency website.
  • Australian Info – The Department of Immigration and Citizenship in Australia comprehensively explains the Family Violence Provisions.

 

If you or your family are victims of domestic violence seek help immediately. You need to do more than just sort out your immigration status. Get in touch with the police, a lawyer, a counselor or even women’s support groups.


Help Lines

      • Australia – 1800-200-526 – Confidential national helpline. Several state specific helplines are also listed.
      • Canada – 1-800-363-9010 – National Domestic Violence Hotline
      • UK – 0808 2000 247 – 24 hour Domestic Violence Helpline
                      – 0300 999 5428 – Broken Rainbow Helpline for LGBT victims
                      – 0844 8044 999 – National Centre for Domestic Violence
        – 0800 917 1414 – Northern Ireland Women’s Aid Federation
             – 08 08 80 10 800 – Welsh Women’s Aid
             – 0800 027 1234 – Scottish Women’s Aid
      • USA – 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) – National Domestic Violence Hotline
                 – 1-800-656-HOPE – National Sexual Assault Hotline
                         – (888)-883-2323 – The National Jewish Domestic Violence Hotline
                 – (800) TRY-NOVA – The National Organization for Victim Assistance
                 – (732) 435-1414 – Manavi Helpline
                 – (800)-621-HOPE – Safe Horizons Domestic Violence Hotline
                 – 1-866-USWOMEN - Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center International Toll Free Crisis Line

      • Other Countries
        • Asia – 092-513-7333 – Asian Women’s Centre
        • Indonesia – (+6221) 837.90010 (Jakarta) - MITRA PEREMPUAN Women's Crisis Centre
        • Ireland – 1850 211 407 – Crime Victims Helpline
        • Spain – 91 574 01 10 – El Centro de Asistencia a Víctimas de Agresiones Sexuales

Resource Centers & National Organizations

Following is a list of organizations and resource centers that can provide you with valuable information and help you if you are a victim of domestic violence.