Research glossary

Domestic violence is abuse within a close relationship, including current or former partners, people living in the same household, and family members. It is not only physical, but domestic violence can also be emotional, sexual, psychological, or financial, and often includes controlling behaviour.

Under the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998, domestic violence can include harassment, stalking, threats, property damage, and entering someone’s home without consent. Domestic violence is about power and control, and it often escalates over time.

To better understand your rights, legal options, and steps you can take, visit our Domestic Violence Guides for detailed information and resources.

Action taken to stop domestic violence, lessen its effects on the victims and their families, and hold the abuser accountable.Domestic Violence Interventions are delivered to either victims or perpetrators after the violence has occurred so as to reduce negative impacts and prevent reoccurrence.

Actions taken to prevent the onset or repetition of domestic violence. Prevention includes activities and approaches that promote safe, healthy relationships and behaviors.” [1] “Prevention activities can be delivered to the whole population or to groups without regard to individual risk levels (i.e. universal interventions), or to particular groups that are at heightened risk of using or experiencing violence

A term used with many meanings. The most common usage is with reference to violence by the spouse or
intimate partner. However, the term is also used sometimes to describe violence within the family, that can be
perpetrated against domestic workers and pets, and includes physical, psychological and sexual violence
rather than a single violent event in a household setting (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2005).

Domestic homicide is defined as the killing of a current or former intimate partner, their child(ren), and/or other third parties. An intimate partner can include people who are in a current or former married, common-law, or dating relationship. Other third parties can include new partners, other family members, neighbours, friends, co-workers, helping professionals, bystanders, and others killed as a result of the incident. Domestic homicide is a form of gender-based violence rooted in historical patterns of inequality, exclusion and discrimination.

Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviour used by one person to gain power and control over another with whom… [they have or have] had an intimate relationship. It may include physical violence, sexual, emotional and psychological intimidation, verbal abuse, stalking, and use of electronic devices to harass and control. Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence, regardless of age, race, religion, sexual orientation, economic status or educational background. The individual engaging in abuse may be a current or former spouse or intimate partner or a family member

Domestic violence takes place between intimate partners (spouses, boyfriend/girlfriend) as well as between family members (e.g. mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law). Domestic violence may include sexual, physical and psychological abuse. Other terms used to refer to domestic violence perpetrated by an intimate partner include “spousal abuse” and “wife battering”.

According to South African law, this includes physical abuse; sexual abuse; emotional, verbal and psychological abuse; economic abuse; intimidation; harassment; stalking; entry into the complainant’s residence without their consent; or any other controlling or abusive behaviour taking place in domestic relationships.

The antonym of mahr (bride price): All fixed and transportable, money or benefit, which the wife gives to her
husband from her own funds or from her family. It’s given to the husband for the purpose of investment and not
for his own use. This is only present in non-Islamic marriage and its profits or returns go to the family, and must
be returned to the women after the termination of marriage. Thus, the wife is considered the owner of dowry.

Doxing is a form of technology-facilitated violence and refers to publishing private information (such as address, phone number) or publicly identifying another individual as a form of revenge or punishment.

Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) occurs when alcohol or other drugs are used to intentionally sedate or incapacitate a person in order to perpetrate non-consensual sexual assault. In essence, a person utilizes incapacitating substances as a weapon to facilitate the sexual assault. The Criminal Code of Canada (section 273.1) defines consent as a “voluntary agreement of the complainant to engage in the sexual activity in question.” Consent cannot be obtained if the person is incapable of consenting to the activity (i.e., the person is drunk, stoned, unconscious)…There are two types of DFSA:

Proactive – a perpetrator puts a drug into a victim’s drink or gives a victim alcohol until she becomes inebriated and incapacitated
Opportunistic – a perpetrator targets an already intoxicated or incapacitated victim