Chinese police ordered to handle domestic violence complaints at scene
24/9/2008 17:35
The Chinese government has ordered police to respond at the scene to all
complaints of domestic violence in a new regulation to protect the rights of
women.
The regulation, issued by seven ministries, including the ministries
of public security, justice and health, requires police to be dispatched
whenever they receive a 110 emergency call regarding household violence.
Chen
Xiourong, vice president of the All-China Women's Federation, said today that
the regulation would reinforce the Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests
of Women, which was amended in 2005 to include articles on domestic abuse.
Twenty-five provinces had also enacted regulations to prevent violence against
women.
Women's federations across China, together with public security
departments, had set up domestic-abuse centers, shelters, complaint hotlines and
legal aid websites, said Chen.
"All the measures have helped greatly to
protect women from domestic violence," she said.
The federation received
40,000 to 50,000 complaints of domestic violence annually, and the number of
cases had been increasing.
In the past, victims lacked legislative support
and were afraid or ashamed to speak out, said Chen.
The Tenth National
Women's Congress will be held from Oct. 28 to 31, and more than 1,200 delegates
representing the country's 650 million women will attend.
Xinhua
|
