This book seeks to address the issue of domestic violence against women. Going deep into the history of oppression against them, it discusses at length the theoretical and constitutional dimensions of gender equality, human rights for women, definition of domestic violence under special laws, and causes of violence against them.

Through the analysis of the reports by the National Crimes Report Bureau, it examines the role of International Women’s Year in 1975 and the UN Decade for Women in the empowerment of women. It also takes stock of the status and position of women during the Vedic, Mughal and British periods, personal, social, legal and psychological discriminations against them, Millennium Development Goals, magnitude of violence and provisions available for women under civil and criminal laws. The judicial and police response to domestic violence and the available preventive measures find place in the discussion as well.