NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 26, 2006: The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005 is now in effect. The Ministry of Women and Child Development issued a notification the law would be enforced beginning October 26. The Act was passed Parliament in August of last year and assented to by the president in September. However, implementation was pending as detailed consultations were required between agencies for framing the rules. Primarily meant to provide protection to the wife or female live-in partner from violence at the hands of the husband or male live-in partner or his relatives, the act extends its protection to women who are sisters, widows or mothers. Domestic violence under the act includes actual abuse or the threat of abuse whether physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or economic. Harassment by way of unlawful dowry demands to the woman or her relatives would also be covered under this definition.
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