Spousal abuse and infant and child mortality in India

Violence against women continues to be a global epidemic that kills, tortures and maims physically, psychologically, sexually and economically. It is one of the most pervasive forms of human rights violations, denying women and girls’ equality, security, dignity, self-worth and right to enjoy fundamental freedoms. Violence against women is present in every country, cutting across boundaries of culture, class, education, income, ethnicity and age. The evidence of the magnitude of the problem of domestic violence in developing countries is growing fast. In recent years, there has been a greater understanding of the problem of domestic violence, which is one of the forms of violence against women, its causes and consequences, and an international consensus has developed on the need to handle this sensitive issue in an appropriate fashion.