Domestic violence: Ring the bell

Dubai When Bollywood singer and composer Adnan Sami was summoned by the Mumbai police after his wife Sabah logged a complaint of “domestic violence'', the officers could not do much except slap a non-cognisable offence against him.

They opined that it was “a fight between husband and wife'', and there was little they could do except send a notice to Sami. The news made headlines because of Sami's celebrity status. But if such domestic violence had occurred in a common man's house, little would have been reported by the media while the neighbours would have lent a deaf ear.

But now, you and I can make a difference in abating the domestic violence in our vicinity by ringing a bell.

Warning the offender

Launched by human rights organisation Breakthrough India, the Bell Bajao (Ring the Bell) campaign urges people to ring the door bell when they hear domestic violence in a house.

By doing so, they can warn the offender that they are aware of the hostility in the house and are willing to take [legal] action. “Indian women have been subject to violence for ages, but since it takes place within the four walls of a house, little is reported or discussed because of the social stigma and shame attached to it,'' said Sonali Khan, Director of Communication Breakthrough India, in a telephone interview with XPRESS from New Delhi.

“People should intervene since it is their duty to stop domestic violence in their neighbourhood. A ‘whose business it is anyway?' attitude will have to take a back seat to stop women being harassed and beaten up behind closed doors,'' said Khan.

Despite the Indian government enforcing The Protection Of Women From Domestic Violence Act in 2005, crimes against women are reported every three minutes, according to the National Crime Records Bureau of India.

Not only that, every nine minutes a case of cruelty by husbands and relatives is recorded; and every six hours a young married woman is burnt, beaten to death or driven to commit suicide.

Though the guilty are punishable under the Domestic Violence Act with a jail term of up to one year and/or a fine of up to Rs20,000 (Dh1,500), loopholes in the Act and slow judiciary progress fail to bring culprits to justice.

‘Troubled house'

“Domestic violence [in India] has to be uprooted by educating people through campaigns and social awareness.

Usually, close family members are expected to act and react. But, in many cases, they are the ones who are party to it,'' said Khan, who urged people, including children, to go and ring the bell of a “troubled house''. Breakthrough India appointed Bollywood actor Boman Irani as the brand ambassador of the Bell Bajao campaign and the response since its launch in September last year has been encouraging. “It's not a personal matter any more.

The fight against domestic violence is our right and we should protect the innocent,'' said Khan.

Pakistan NGO comes forward for victims

Dubai - Violence and torture has been a core issue in Pakistan too. Non-government organisations like SACH - Struggle for Change - has been working with other welfare bodies to protect victims.

“Our focus is to help those who are hapless and need support in the society,'' Nauman Ahmad, SACH official, told XPRESS over the telephone from Islamabad. “Though torture takes place among men and women, very few women come forward with their grievances,'' said Ahmad, whose organisation also helps the Afghan refugee population overcome their social problems.

Formed in 1993, SACH is headed by Khalida Salimi and is supported by hundreds of volunteers and other local organisations who fight for the “victims' rights''. “Our group's aim is to train media, police and other social groups to help and prevent torture and violence... And the best way to impart knowledge is to have roadshows,'' said Ahmad. “Domestic violence is a sensitive issue and we don't want to take this up unless and until we receive a formal complaint from the victims or their relatives,'' he said. Last year, the group staged a play for Afghan refugees in Losar Sharfu village in Pakistan's Punjab province.