Towards Using Mobile Phones to Inconspicuously Report Domestic Violence in an Indian slum

A recent study found that over 1 in 3 women have experienced domestic violence in Dharavi, a Mumbai slum, and yet most victims do not seek help to address this issue. We are supporting a new initiative by a local community organization that aims to support victims as well as more accurately record the prevalence of domestic violence in the slum. One challenge is to find a way that victims can use mobile phones to inconspicuously report incidents of domestic violence. We consider different approaches and discuss their suitability for the particular conditions in Dharavi, which include: a lack of privacy; low levels of literacy and digital skills; and the basic technology levels of most mobile phones, which are often shared by a household.