World Health organization (WHO) define violence the intention use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, against a group or community, that either results in or has a high lively-hood of resulting injury or death, psychological harm, mal-development or deprivation. Each year, more than million people lose their lives, and many more suffer from injuries due to violence. Over all, violence is among the leading cause of death worldwide for people aged 15– 44 years (World Report on Violence and Health, 2002).

Violence is a universal scourge that threatens the life, health and happiness of all human being. This includes threats, coercion and the arbitrary deprivation of resources is violence against women usually performed by a male partner (world Report, 2002).

Violence against women and girl (VAWG) is a global epidemic that kills, tortures and Maims –physically, psychologically, sexually & economically. VAWG takes several forms. It also includes domestic violence; women are not safe even in their own home. Every human being has basic right to live in their home peacefully, but women’s basic right is isolated due to violence. Therefore, VAWG is the most pervasive of human right violation.

Domestic violence is defined by United Nation as violence occurring within the private sphere, generally between individuals who are related through intimacy, blood or law (WHO, 2003). Domestic violence is also referred to as “wife beating" “wife battering" intimate “partner abuse" (Heise 2000). In most of the traditional societies, wife beating is largely regarded as a consequence of a man's right to inflict physical punishment on his wife. In many setting like ours women are expected to look after their homes and children, show obedience and respect to their husband. If a man feels that his wife has failed to play her role or overstepped her limits, for instance, asking for husband expenses or stressing the need of their children then violence may be his response.

Data from various countries suggest that partner violence account for a significant number of deaths by murdering among women. Studies from Australia, Canada, Israel, South Asia and the United States of America show that 40-70% of female murder victims were killed by their husbands or boy friends (World report, 2002).

Nepal consists of diverse ecological, ethnic, cultural and multi-language societies; in general our country is predominantly a Hindu country, where it has its own cultural practice & value regarding the states of women and men. The status of men & women are unequal. Women are considered as second – class citizens in this patriarchal society (SAATHI, 1997). Thus most

of the families are men headed and treat the women as commodities or child producing machines. Women are affected disproportionately in different ways than men. In addition, the combination of poverty and gender discrimination results on many unpleasant problems in their own family.

Our cultures are patriarchal in nature. Thus, in the socialization process while women are taught to be non – aggressive, submissive, soft spoken and timid. Men on the other hand are taught aggression, violence and boldness.

In addition Nepali law does not address domestic violence, despite its high prevalence in all sector of the society. Generally speaking, domestic violence is regarded as family business, which does not require intervention of law. Hence many cases remain unreported and it will continues to remain behind closed doors as long as the society continues to regard domestic violence as normal, or to dismiss it as a private matter. Then women continue to suffer gross violations of human right within their homes. Violence can result in injury to victims, which also bears the cost of seeking medical treatment, the inability to supplement family income due to loss of productivity and employment. It continues to destroy families and affects society at large. So, the issue of domestic violence needs to be a mainstreamed in the government policies and a program with high priority.