It is often difficult for a woman to report violence, pursue legal action or end the relationship because of: ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ Fear for her safety or that of her children Fear that her children will be apprehended or taken away by the husband if it is alleged that she is in some way an unfit mother Influence of her extended family or children Emotional attachment and loyalty to the abuser Low self-esteem and self-blame Economic dependency on the abuser Religious values or pressure from the cultural community Social isolation and lack of a support system Authorities denying, minimizing or rationalizing the severity of the violence Lack of legal information about victims’ rights and mechanisms’ in place 1. The Law says The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, Section 8 Duties of police officers, service providers and Magistrate A police officer, Protection Officer, service provider or Magistrate who has received a complaint of domestic violence or is otherwise present at the place of an incident of domestic violence or when the incident of domestic violence is reported to him, shall inform the aggrieved person(a) of her right to make an application for obtaining a relief by way of a protection order, an order for monetary relief, a custody order, a residence order, a compensation order or more than one such order under this Act; (b) of the availability of services of service providers; (c) of the availability of services of the Protection Officers; (d) of her right to free legal services under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (39 of 1987);(e) of her right to file a complaint under section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), wherever relevant: Provided that nothing in this Act shall be construed in any manner as to relieve a police officer from his duty to proceed in accordance with law upon receipt of information as to the commission of a cognizable offence. 36 Manual on Human Rights for Police Officers