TheProtection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005is anActof theParliament of Indiaenacted to protect women fromdomestic violence. It was brought into force by theIndian governmentfrom 26 October 2006. The Act provides for the first time in Indian law a definition of "domestic violence", with this definition being broad and including not only physical violence, but also other forms of violence such as emotional/verbal, sexual, and economic abuse. It is a civil law meant primarily forprotection ordersand not meant to penalize criminally.Primarily meant to provide protection to thewifeor female live-in partner fromdomestic violenceat the hands of thehusbandor male live-in partner or his relatives, the law also extends its protection to women living in a household such as sisters, widows or mothers. Domestic violence under the act includes actual abuse or the threat of abuse whether physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or economic.Harassment by way of unlawfuldowrydemands to the woman or her relatives would also be covered under this definition.