A new collaboration between The University of Manchester and Manipal Academy of Higher Education in Karnataka, will examine how family court processes in India affect the health and safety of women experiencing domestic violence.
The partnership will build an interdisciplinary team focused on the links between domestic violence, family courts and women's health in South India.
That, they say, will generate early frameworks that can inform future reforms, judicial training and survivor‑centred practice, laying the foundation for long‑term community partnerships and multi‑country research.
Domestic violence is widespread in India, with national surveys showing that almost half of Indian women have faced some form of spousal abuse.
The southwestern state Karnataka alone recorded more than seventeen thousand cases in 2022.
Lead researcher Dr Liz Dalgarno from The University of Manchester said: "Although India handles well over a million family disputes each year, there is still no systematic research on how these legal journeys shape women's long‑term wellbeing.
"And there is some evidence which shows that court processes can sometimes prolong stress, fear and control."
The project will initially focus on assessing the feasibility of the study and map how family court procedures actually work for the women who go through the system.
The team will also map key organisations in Karnataka, from women's police stations to community health workers, to understand where survivors seek help and where systems may be falling short.
"This groundwork matters because India needs its own evidence base to make sure women are supported, not harmed, when they turn to the courts," added Dr Dalgarno.
The collaboration will provide opportunities for students in Manchester and Karnataka interested in understanding the intersection of law, health and gender‑based violence
Arpana Verma is Clinical Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology and Head of the Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care.
She said: "This partnership aligns closely with both our universities' commitments to tackling inequality, strengthening international collaboration and improving outcomes for marginalised communities.
"By focusing on women's health, domestic violence and legal systems, the project speaks directly to shared priorities around gender equality, prevention of harm and access to safe, trauma‑informed services."
Professor Arathi Rao from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education said: "Family courts are often a crucial point of contact for women seeking protection from domestic violence. Legal processes, while designed to deliver justice, can also impact women's health, safety, and well-being.
"By examining these intersections, we aim to inform more responsive, survivor-centred systems that truly protect and support women during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives."
