China's first domestic violence law may include emotional or psychological abuse and cover cohabitation in order to protect traditionally silent abuse victims, a new draft reads.
According to the draft, which is up for a second reading at the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee's bimonthly session, "[China] prohibits any form of domestic violence."
Domestic violence is defined as physical or psychological harm inflicted by relatives, including assault, injury, restraint or forcible limits on physical liberty as well as recurring verbal threats and abuse.
An earlier draft, submitted in August this year, included only physical abuse, but many lawmakers argued that the definition was too narrow, said Su Zelin, deputy director with the Commission for Legislative Affairs of the NPC Standing Committee.
They also said that the law should cover cohabitation, Su said, hence, the second draft covered those who are not related but live together.
China does not have a specialized law on domestic abuse, and the issue has remained in the shadows as family conflict is considered an embarrassing private matter. As a result, victims are often afraid to speak out and, in many cases, are turned away by police.
Attitudes to domestic violence changed in 2011, when Kim Lee, wife of celebrity entrepreneur Li Yang, posted pictures of her bruised face on Sina Weibo and accused Li of assault. In 2013, Kim was granted a divorce, alimony and compensation on the grounds of domestic violence.
According to the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), nearly 25 percent of Chinese women have suffered violence in their marriage, but the federation receives only 40,000 to 50,000 complaints each year.
Victims who approach the ACWF for help are mainly women, children and the elderly, and 88.3 percent of cases in 2014 involved abuse by husbands of their wives, 7.5 percent by parents or a parent, and 1.3 percent by children.
PERSONAL PROTECTION ORDERS
According to the draft, victims and those in immediate danger can file for a personal protection order that the court must grant or deny within 72 hours. In urgent cases, decisions must be made the same day.
