Impact of Domestic Violence
on Children

As many as 275 million children worldwide
are exposed to violence in the home.
Source: UNICEF. (2006). Behind closed doors: The impact of domestic violence on children. Retrieved from
http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf

27.1 to 69 million children are exposed to
domestic violence in India.
Source: UNICEF. (2006). Behind closed doors: The impact of domestic violence on children. Retrieved from
http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf

The sons of the most violent parents are
1000 times more likely to become wife
beaters.
Source : CHILDREN'S VULNERABILITY TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE by Mohan Tiwary* & Rajiva Prasad**

Increased risk of children
becoming victims of abuse
themselves.
Challenges and Risks faced by Children
who witness DV.
Strong likelihood that this will
become a continuing cycle of
violence for the next generation.
Significant risk of ever increasing
harm to the child’s physical,
emotional and social
development.
Challenges and Risks Source: UNICEF. (2006). Behind closed doors: The impact of domestic violence on children. Retrieved from
http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf

Childhood problems associated with exposure to
domestic violence fall into three primary
categories:
1)Behavioural, social, and emotional problems
• Higher Levels Of Aggression,
• Anger,
• Hostility,
• Oppositional Behaviour, And Disobedience;
• Fear,
Childhood Problems Source: The Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2009). Domestic violence and the child welfare system. Retrieved from
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/domesticviolcene.cfm

• Anxiety,
• Withdrawal, And Depression;
• Poor Peer, Sibling, And Social Relationships;
• And Low Self-esteem.
Source: The Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2009). Domestic violence and the child welfare system. Retrieved from
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/domesticviolcene.cfm

2) Cognitive and attitudinal problems.
• Lower Cognitive Functioning,
• Poor School Performance,
• Lack Of Conflict Resolution Skills,
• Limited Problem Solving Skills,
• Pro-violence Attitudes,
• Belief In Rigid Gender Stereotypes And Male
Privilege.
Source: The Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2009). Domestic violence and the child welfare system. Retrieved from
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/domesticviolcene.cfm

3) Long-term problems.
Higher levels of adult depression and trauma
symptoms and increased tolerance for and use
of violence in adult relationships.
Source: The Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2009). Domestic violence and the child welfare system. Retrieved from
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/domesticviolcene.cfm

• Safe and secure environment.
• Children need to know that there are adults
who will listen to them and shelter them.
• Children need a sense of routine and
normalcy.
• Children need support services to meet their
needs.
What children need ?
UNICEF. (2006). Behind closed doors: The impact of domestic violence on children. Retrieved from
http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf

• Children need to learn that domestic violence
is wrong and learn non-violent methods of
resolving conflicts.
• Children need adults to speak out and break
the silence.
What children need ?
UNICEF. (2006). Behind closed doors: The impact of domestic violence on children. Retrieved from
http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf

In order to protect adult survivors and their
children, we engage with :
• Survivors and her family
• Community
• Civil Society organizations
• Government machinery
Our Strategy

• Building correct perspective on Domestic
Violence
• Gender education programme for 8th and 9th
grade children.
• Feminist Counseling (safety, well-being and
rights)
• Legal counseling and legal aid
• Motivational programmes for survivor women
(confidence, self esteem)
Survivor and her family

• Enhancing awareness, sensitivity on Domestic
Violence issue.
• Building correct perspective on Domestic
Violence.
• Promoting community level groups for
supporting survivors of domestic violence.
Community

Training and accompaniment support to
NGOs for working on domestic violence.
Civil Society Organizations

• Advocacy at the state and national level for
effective implementation of Domestic
Violence Act
• Sensitization and training programs on gender
and Domestic Violence Act for govt. lawyers,
judges, police, protection officers and NGO
service providers
Government Machinery

Highlights of 2013

• Community support groups of women -
211 villages
• Community support groups of men -
138 villages
Promotion of Community Support Groups

• 14 Counseling centres set up for providing
counseling and legal counseling for
survivors of domestic violence
Setting up of Counselling Centres

• 350 service providers - including lawyers,
judges, health workers and protection officers
• 15 Community based Organizations from
Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh sensitized on
Gender based Violence and oriented on
PWDV Act
Sensitization and Training of Service Providers

• 45 Schools and 18 colleges
• 17000 students
• 5230 boys and girls showed changes in
gender related attitude and behavior
Gender Education Programme

Domestic Violence Cases addressed…
1384

Write to us on info@aidforchange.org to
sponsor a CSR project on domestic violence.