Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

To promptly and effectively fight against women's rights violation, China will further clarify the duties of local governments, grassroots self-governing organizations and All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), requiring mandatory report and checking mechanism in the draft amendment on protection of women's rights.

The newly revised draft of the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests highlights targeted measures effectively against violations of women's rights and interests, said Zang Tiewei, spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, at a press conference on Thursday. 

Agencies of household and marriage registration, local governments and their dispatching sub-district offices, as well as self-governing organizations in cities and villages should report to the public security agencies immediately if they find women suspected of being abducted or kidnapped, Zang said.

Zang noted that "ACWF should strengthen the checking and investigation of such cases with the support of related government agencies. Hotels and other accommodations operators should precisely record the information of their customers and report to the police if they suspect something is wrong."

The Legislative Affairs Commission requested public comments on the initial version of draft amendment from last December to January after the first examination of NPC, receiving a total of 423,719 suggestions and nearly 300 letters from the public.

Zang pointed out that besides the effective prevention of crimes against women such as abduction and trafficking, public comments mainly concern issues of gender equality in education and employment, as well as female employees' rights related to pregnancy and childbirth.

"We will require schools to check the criminal records of teachers, volunteers and community workers to be employed and say no to those with sexual assault or harassment record. Employers shall not restrict the promotion of female staff because of their pregnancy, maternity leave and breast-feeding," said Zang.

Zang said the draft will be further revised and improved based on the public opinion before being submitted to the top legislature for a second deliberation from April 18 to April 20.

Global Times