Journal of Punjab Academy of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

One of the most common forms of violence against women is that perpetrated by a husband or an intimate male partner or by family members. As per World Report on Violence and Health, Intimate partners, often in the context of an abusive relationship, commit 40–70% of homicides of women worldwide^.(1) Intimate partner abuse is generally part of a pattern of abusive behaviour also known as “wife-beating”, “battering”, or “domestic violence”. Women face the threat of violence in various forms throughout their lives. As it is generally accepted that the wife being weaker physically, socially and in resources, might easily be physically and mentally tortured by husband, apart from physical assault, psychological abuse, such as constant intimidation, humiliation and coercive sex. Another form of abuse is isolating a woman from family and friends, monitoring her movements and restricting her access to resources and services.