The launch event was hosted by the Center for Public Policy and Law at Beijing University of Science and Technology. The three Chinese authors presented the handbooks for more than 40 participants from universities and local professional groups.
The Anti-domestic violence law in China
Violence within families was traditionally viewed as a private matter in China — but this is changing.
A new anti-domestic violence law came into effect in March 2016. It was a breakthrough in changing people’s perception of domestic violence. The new law legally defines domestic violence as both physical and psychological abuse of family members and of cohabitating non-family members. The law also further clarifies the responsibilities of government agencies, mass organizations, schools, social worker services and the media to address and prevent domestic violence.
A need for practical measures to implement the law
The challenge is now how to enforce the law in its true sense. Specialized practical skills are needed in order to prevent and address domestic violence cases and to further change people’s mindsets. Yet it is clear that the current knowledge is not up to par among the professional groups that are in contact with victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. The NCHR supported the production of the three handbooks in order to address this issue and to show different Chinese professional groups how to prevent abuse and how to protect or assist victims of domestic violence in the best possible way.
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