Paul Tsai China Center Continues Work in Domestic Violence Reform

In June 2016, Paul Tsai China Center Senior Fellow Su Lin Han participated in a domestic violence workshop in Hunan Province, as part of a cooperative project with our partner Li Ying and her Yuanzhong Gender Development Center. The project coincides with the recent enactment of China’s groundbreaking Domestic Violence Law and focuses on working with local government stakeholders to develop effective institutional mechanisms for domestic violence response and improve information sharing and coordination among police, the courts, and victim service providers to identify high risk cases and protect victims’ safety.

The new Domestic Violence Law offers a range of new legal remedies. Chief among them are China’s first statutory definition of domestic violence and the availability of civil protective orders to keep abusers away from their victims. The law also introduces forward-thinking prevention measures such as mandatory reporting and written police warnings for minor offenses. Effective implementation will be critical for delivering tangible benefits of the new legal protection to victims of domestic violence.