Domestic violence is the physical, sexual or emotional abuse inflicted on a man or woman by their partner. Women are usually, but not always, the victims. Possibly as many as 1 in 4 women are abused by a partner. Violence by women towards male partners is rare, but does occur.
Violence is more likely when there are children in the household.
It often starts during pregnancy or after childbirth. Domestic violence has been involved in around half the separations that happen each year. In families where there is domestic violence, children witness about two thirds of the abusive incidents. About half the children in such families have themselves been badly hit or beaten. Sexual and emotional abuse are also more likely to happen in these families.