The World Health Organization defines violence as: “The intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or a group or community, which results in or has a high probability of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, poor development or deprivation.” The WHO has declared violence against women both a public health problem and a violation of human rights. Violence against women is of many types and has many faces. Also called gender-based violence, public health experts around the world have called it the “hidden epidemic.” (ref) Violence against women is an ancient practice, but it was only in the last decade of the 20th century that it gained recognition as a serious human rights issue. Violence is generally classified into two categories: Social violence which occurs in public places and usually between strangers and Domestic violence which occurs in families and usually between relatives. It is violence in private life which includes domestic violence against women. It is a global issue that transcends all geographical, social, cultural and ethnic boundaries. Although it is the most shameful of all human rights violations, it is nevertheless acceptable in communities around the world, considered part of their social and cultural norms. This article aims to discuss domestic violence against women living in South Asia with a specific focus on Pakistan. It attempts to discuss the types of domestic violence against women in Pakistan, the factors underlying such violence with an analysis of the health and human rights issues involved. BACKGROUND South Asia has an impressive record of women reaching the highest political positions. India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan are all at the center of the document, in the theory and practice of rights (Yamin A 2008). Yamin (2008) argues that states must set priorities and allocate resources accordingly. Health priorities should be based on evidence of what is needed and what works best. It is necessary to address the social, cultural and political factors that influence victim health seeking and reporting of domestic violence behaviors. As far as the healthcare sector is concerned, these factors may be the lack of availability of healthcare facilities. There may be economic constraints, physical constraints, lack of information and cultural barriers, or poor quality of healthcare may dissuade women from seeking help. This can also apply to other services such as consultancy and legal assistance. Works Cited Yamin, A. 2008. Beyond Compassion: The central role of Accountability in applying a human rights framework to health. Health and Human Rights, vol.10 (2); 1-20