Family or domestic violence is characterized by various forms of harm, including physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, neglect and financial abuse), occurring between family members or intimate partners. While typically taking place at home, it can extend beyond the household. Family or domestic violence occurs when one family member uses force and/or various forms of threats to establish control and dominance over other family members.
Family violence is unjustifiable and can occur among all groups, ages, genders, races and religions.
For further information, download the UAE Ministry of Community Development Family Protection Guide by clicking here.
Types of violence:
Physical violence:
Any attack committed by the aggressor, by any means, on the body of the victim, even if the attack did not leave any mark. Forms of physical violence include hitting, kicking, slapping, hair pulling, pinching and pushing, whether such injury is apparent or hidden.
Psychological or emotional violence:
Any action or utterance that causes psychological harm to the victim. Forms of psychological violence include all sorts of intimidation or threats, deliberate insult, all sorts of deprivation, deliberate embarrassment to the victim or destruction of personal property of moral or material value.
Verbal violence:
Any abusive language used to shame, embarrass or threaten the victim. Forms of verbal violence include insults, yelling, destructive criticism, neglect, name-calling, intimidating through facial expressions, using a high or harsh tone of voice and excessive control over the other person’s personal matters.
Sexual violence:
Any act that constitutes sexual assault or harassment of the victim or exploiting him/ her by any means. Examples include sexual harassment (whether verbal or physical) and forcing a person to engage in or witness sexual acts against their will.
Material / Economic violence:
Any act that involves manipulating the victim’s financial resources. Forms of material violence include compelling a person to be financially dependent by attempting to prevent them from seeking employment, not allowing them to retain their current job, or controlling their personal sources of income.
Neglect:
Clear and constant acts that fail to provide the victim with basic material, psychological, health or educational needs, or to take precautions and measures to prevent harm that threatens the safety of any family member and gives rise to his/ her right to protection and care. Forms of neglect include ignoring the provision of daily necessities, failure to take action about a medical condition or neglecting to register the victim’s identification papers.
Examples of individuals considered victims of family or domestic violence include:
- A wife who was violated by her husband
- A woman over the age of 18 who has experienced violence by a family member or members of the same household
- A man subjected to any form of violence by one or more family members, including instances where he was subject to violence outside the household
- An elderly parent who was subjected to physical or emotional abuse by their adult children or caregivers.