A comparative study of laws governing domestic violence in Ethiopia and India

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the laws governing domestic violence in Ethiopia and India and to then determine their practical efficacy. Data was collected using in-depth interviews with victims of domestic violence, and an examination of judicial interpretation and findings in domestic violence cases, in both the city of Jimma, South-Western Ethiopia, and the town of Ranni, a district of Kerala in India. A comprehensive literature study was conducted concerning domestic violence against women in India and Ethiopia, international laws, and agreements on violence against women, and international best practices relating to domestic violence legislation and prevention. Ethiopian law governing domestic violence was compared with a similar law in India. The nature, cause, extent, and prevalence of domestic violence in both jurisdictions were identified. The findings of this study indicate various shortcomings in the law governing domestic violence in these two countries, which cause a contravention of international agreements and best practices. It was further found that legislation alone is inadequate to address domestic violence since other social and cultural factors are involved in the phenomenon. The need for enhanced legislation in India and Ethiopia to effectively address domestic violence was identified. Intervention strategies to inform policies and legislative changes in terms of domestic violence in India and Ethiopia are therefore proposed. Finally, this study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on addressing domestic violence in these jurisdictions.

Maikemišetšo a thutelo ye ke go bapetša melao yeo e laolago bošoro ka magaeng go la Ethiopia le India go šupa ge eba melao ye e phethagatšwa ka mokgwa wo o ka thušago go fihlelela dipoelo tše di nyakwago. Tshedimošo e kgobokeditšwe ka mokgwa wa ditherišano tše di tseneletšego le batšwasehlabelo ba itemogetšego bošoro ka magaeng le tlhahlobo ya dikahlolo tša bokgaolakgang tša melato ya bošoro ka magaeng ka toropong ya Jimma, Borwa- Bodikela bja Ethiopia, gammogo le toropo ya Ranni, selete sa Kerala ka go India. Thutelo ya dingwalo ka botlalo e phethagaditšwe ya bošoro ka magaeng kgahlanong le basadi go la India le Ethiopia, melao le ditumelelano tša boditšhabatšhaba ka ga bošoro kgahlanong le basadi le mekgwa ye e amogetšwego boemong bja boditšhabatšhaba go ba ye mekaonekaone ya melao ya bošoro ka magaeng. Melao ya Ethopia yeo e laolago bošoro ka magaeng e bapeditšwe le melao yeo e swanago le yona go la India. Tlhago, seo se hlolago, bogolo le tlwaelo ya tiragalo ya bošoro ka magaeng ka kakaretšo dinageng tše pedi tše di šupilwe. Dikhwetšo tša thutelo ye di bontšha mafokodi a fapanego go melao yeo e laolago bošoro ka magaeng dinageng tše pedi tše ao a dirago gore melao ye e tshele mekgwa ye e amogetšwego boemong bja boditšhabatšhaba go ba ye mekaonekaone. Go lemogilwe gape gore tlhakamolao e nnoši ga e na maatla ao a lekanego go rarolla bošoro ka magaeng, ka ge mabaka a mangwe a setšhaba le setšo a akareditšwe. Tlhokego ya tlhakamolao ya maemo ao a phagamišitšwego ka go India le Ethiopia go lwantšha bošoro ka magaeng e šupilwe. Maano a tsenogare go fa tshedimošo ka melaotshepetšo le diphetogo tša melao ye e tsebišitšwego malebana le bošoro ka magaeng ka go India le Ethiopia ka gorealo a šišintšwe. Mafelelong, thutelo ye e tlaleletša go bontši bja tsebo ye e lego gona ka ga go rarolla bošoro ka magaeng ka go dinaga tše.

Inhloso yalolu cwaningo kwabe kuwukuqhathanisa imithetho elawula udlame lwasekhaya e-Ethiopia kanye nase-India ngenhloso yokuthola ukuthi le mithetho isetshenziswa ngendlela efanele yini. Idatha yaqoqwa ngokuthi kubanjwe izingxoxo ezinohlonze futhi ezijulile nabantu abayizisulu zodlame lwasekhaya futhi kwacutshungulwa kwaphinde kwahlaziywa nezinqumo zenkantolo emacaleni odlame lwasekhaya edolobheni lase-Jimma, eNingizimu- Ntshonalanga Ethiopia, kanye nasedolobheni lase-Ranni, esifundeni sase-Kerala kwelase-India. Kwenziwa ucwaningo lwemibhalo olubanzi mayelana nodlame lwasekhaya olubhekiswe kwabesifazane e-India nase-Ethiopia, futhi kwahlaziywa nemibhalo equkethe imithetho yamazwe ngamazwe kanye nezivumelwano eziphathelene nokunqandwa kodlame olubhekiswe kwabesifazane kanye nemithetho ephuma phambili emhlabeni jikelele, eyisibonelo esihle, yokulwisana nodlame lwasekhaya. Imithetho yase-Ethiopia elawula udlame lwasekhaya yaqhathaniswa nemithetho efanayo kwelase-India. Kwahlonzwa ubunjalo, izimbangela, ububanzi kanye nokusabalala kodlame lwasekhaya kuwo womabili lawa mazwe. Okwatholwa wulolu cwaningo kubonisa amaphutha nokwahluleka okuhlukahlukene emithethweni elawula udlame lwasekhaya kulawa mazwe, okubangela ukuthi le mithetho iphule izinkambiso eziphuma phambili ezibekiwe emhlabeni jikelele eziyisibonelo emazweni amaningi. Kwatholakala futhi nokuthi imithetho iyodwa ayanele ekubhekaneni nodlame lwasekhaya, njengoba zikhona nezinye izinto eziphathelene nenhlalo kanye namasiko ezibandakanyekayo kulokhu. Kwahlonzwa isidingo sokuthi imithetho yenziwe ngcono kwelase-India nase- Ethiopia ukuze kubhekwane nodlame lwasekhaya ngendlela efanele. Ngakho-ke, kwaphakanyiswa amasu okungenelela, okuyiwona azosetshenziswa ekwakheni izinqubomgomo nokwenza izinguquko emithethweni yokulwisana nodlame lwasekhaya e-India nase-Ethiopia. Okokugcina, lolu cwaningo lufaka isandla emthamweni wolwazi olukhona njengamanje mayelana nokubhekana nodlame lwasekhaya kulawa mazwe.