Introduction
Samia, 40, is regularly beaten by her husband. Once he threw his shoes straight at her face, for example, because she was slow in serving him his tea at their home in a Madaba village. After a trip to the hospital following yet another incident, her brother took her to the police to file a complaint. She refused to sign the complaint, and a week later was back home. A husband has the right to beat his wife, she says. Besides, she adds, "I have nobody other than him to rely on, and worry about my children." Leaving her husband means losing custody. These days when Samia ventures out, bruises and scars are usually visible.
Domestic violence invaded many of the households in the use of physical force, deadly weapons and sexual assault. It had no prejudice toward racial, economic backgrounds or cultural. It was the cause of injury for many women between the ages of 12 to 55.
What is Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is behavior - emotional, psychological, physical, or sexual abuse - that one person in an intimate relationship uses in order to control the other. It takes many different forms and includes behavior such as threats, name calling, isolation, withholding money, actual or threatened physical harm and sexual assault. The effects of domestic violence on women touch every aspect of their lives as well as the lives around them. Domestic abuse is a complex social problem that must be understood and seriously addressed by all community members if we truly expect to create a peaceful future for everyone.
The impact of domestic violence extends far beyond the walls of the family home. Friends, family members, co-workers, supervisors, religious leaders, and congregation memb ...