My life and the lives of countless others have been marred by the trauma of Domestic Violence (DV). This crime is a silent epidemic that disregards the boundaries of who you are and where you come from, subtly infiltrating the sanctity of our homes. I believe it’s high time for our government to create a law that acknowledges Domestic Violence as a separate, identifiable criminal offence.

Currently, all acts related to domestic violence are treated as individual offences. The burden of this structure lurks in the shadows of the preset time limits for reporting, often limiting the path to justice. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men in the United States have experienced some forms of DV (National Domestic Violence Hotline) The statistic for the UK is as follows- The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that 2.1 million people aged 16 years and over (1.4 million women and 751,000 men) experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023 (www.ons.gov.uk These statistics, albeit grim, vaguely capture the complete picture – as many instances of DV go unreported due to fear and confusion around its legal standing.

We need to shape our legal system to support victims, empowering them to step forward and seek the justice they deserve. Making Domestic Violence a recognised criminal offence will not only provide the survivors with broader legal avenues, but it also ensures that the perpetrators receive the necessary punitive measures, preventing them from causing harm to others in the future.

By collectively raising our voices, we can stop the menace of domestic violence by empowering survivors legally and socially. As someone intimately aware of the effects of DV, I urge all of you to stand up and lend your support to this cause. If anything, it’s a step closer to a safer society for us all. Please sign this petition and contribute to a change we desperately need.