Julie Broussard, UN Women Country Program Manager for China, gives a speech at the anti-domestic violence seminar in Beijing. Photo: Courtesy of UN Women

Zhen Yan, president of China Association of Marriage and Family Studies, speaks at the anti-domestic violence seminar in Beijing. Photo: Courtesy of UN Women

An international seminar promoting anti-domestic violence efforts initiated by the UN and China's official women's rights organization concluded Tuesday in Beijing. 

The two-day seminar, which began Monday, was co-hosted by UN Women and the China Association of Family and Marriage Studies under the All China Women's Federation (ACWF). The seminar focused on the implementation of China's Domestic Violence Law through meaningful engagement with women's groups and civil society organizations (CSOs). 

Over 140 people participated in the meeting, including ACWF workers at various levels and CSO representatives from 13 Chinese provinces. Senior government officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Supreme People's Court, the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the ACWF also attended the seminar. 

Julie Broussard, UN Women Country Program Manager for China, said the meeting is a "big step forward for women's rights in China."

China implemented a new Anti-Domestic Violence Law on March 1 this year. 

Broussard complimented the new law for emphasizing the importance of prevention, establishing a mandatory reporting system for family violence and obligating law enforcement officers to intervene immediately when a report is filed. 

However she also pointed out that the law stops short of including sexual or economic violence in its definition of domestic violence, nor does it address violence that occurs in dating relationships or between ex-spouses.

Broussard called on public institutions and social organizations in China to work together in advancing the Anti-Domestic Violence Law to help those in need gain access to help. 

The ACWF receives about 50,000 complaints of domestic violence each year. The actual number of domestic violence cases is estimated to be much higher, as most Chinese victims choose to remain silent. 

Ni Chunxia, an official from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, said the civil affairs ministry is willing and obliged to help the ACWF and social organizations carry out anti-domestic violence work. 

Three international experts introduced international best practices regarding NGO participation in domestic violence law implementation in Austria, UK and other countries.

National and local practices were also shared at the meeting on partnerships between the government and CSOs to promote multi-sector responses to domestic violence victims, including providing them with effective counseling and shelter support.

Global Times