Domestic Violence in Bahrain - Literature review Example

The incidents of domestic violence continue to increase, with the number of women needing protection doubling from 2007 to 2008 (Al Ayam 2008). In 2001, Bahrain adopted the National Action Charter the aims of which include the improvement of the rights of the female Bahraini population. Even then, this Charter was not able to address the issues of domestic violence against women due to the lack of provisions which legally forbids this practice (Ahmed 2009).The term ‘violence against women’ (VAW) has been given several definitions.

In its Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women in 1993, the United Nations has defined the term as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is 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 in private life.” This definition is similar to that of Saltzman et al (2002) which also pointed out that VAlikelylly also includes some form of psychological abuse inflicted on the women and as such, the term is better phrased as ‘violence and abuse against women’ (VAAW).

Yoshihama (1999) stressed, on the other hand, that any definition of violence against women would not be complete without taking it. The term ‘violence against women’ (VAW) has been given several definitions. In its Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women in 1993, the United Nations has defined the term 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 in private life.”