Abuse is an attempt to control the behaviour of another person. It is a misuse of power, which uses the bonds of intimacy, trust and dependency to make the victim vulnerable.
Domestic violence is not limited to physical assault. It occurs in all socio-economic groups and cultural/religious backgrounds and affects women of all ages.
The United Nations (Commission on the Status of Women, 1993) defines violence against women as:
"…any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty whether occurring in public or private life."
The most important thing to realize about domestic assault is that it is a crime.
