Issue of domestic violence should be taken by all: Meira

NEW DELHI: Suggesting that protection of women from domestic violence should top the resolution of "all", Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today said not sending a girl child to school or providing her nutritious food was also a form of violence.

"Protecting women against domestic violence is a very important issue and should be on top of the resolution of all in the coming year," she said addressing a conference here.

"Not sending a girl child to school or not giving nutritious food to a girl child is also some form of violence against women," she added.

Kumar noted that domestic violence is increasingly being recognised globally as a "serious" human rights issue.

"However, it is a stark reality that 35 per cent of the Indian women and girls have experienced physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime, she said.

It was a matter of "grave concern" that perpetrators of the violence against women were those who were entrusted to protect them, be it their family member or partners, she said.

"It is ironical that our society on one hand deifies women as Stree Shakti and yet subjects them to gender biases. We pray to them as Ma Durga and simultaneously indulge in female foeticide, honour killing and domestic violence," she added.