Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in intimate relationships involving physical, emotional, sexual or financial control threatening or harming partners, family members or household residents, violating trust and autonomy.

Effective strategies for preventing domestic violence involve a multi faceted approach – 

1. Primary prevention prevents domestic violence through education, awareness and skill building promoting healthy relationships, consent and respect targeting youth and communities.
2. Community based strategies prevent domestic violence through local programs, services and partnerships engaging community members, organizations and institutions to promote safety.
3. Policy and legislative changes prevent domestic violence by strengthening laws, protecting victims rights and allocating resources for support services.
4. Individual and relationship focused strategies prevent domestic violence through counseling, therapy and skills training promoting healthy communication, conflict resolution and empathy.
5. Cultural and social norms change prevents domestic violence by challenging harmful gender stereotypes, promoting mutual respect and normalizing healthy relationships.
6. Survivor centered approaches prioritize victims autonomy, safety and well being providing trauma informed support, resources and empowerment to break violence cycles.
7.  Collaborative efforts unite agencies, organizations and communities to prevent domestic violence through coordinated services, shared resources and collective impact.

Challenges to domestic violence strategies include societal stigma, victim blaming, limited resources, inadequate laws, cultural and linguistic barriers, perpetrator resistance and systemic failures, hindering effective prevention, support and accountability measures.