South China's Dongguan to Establish Its First Domestic-Violence Shelter

A domestic-violence shelter will be opened in Dongguan, a city in south China's Guangdong Province, to protect women and children in need of temporary shelter from domestic violence, as has been reported by Dongguan Women's Federation officials. [Guangzhou Daily]

A domestic-violence shelter will be opened in Dongguan, a city in south China's Guangdong Province, to protect women and children in need of temporary shelter from domestic violence, as has been reported by Dongguan Women's Federation officials.

Dongguan's Qishi Township was selected as the site location of the shelter, which will be open to the public before the next International Women's Day (March 8, 2015), said Vice President of Dongguan Women's Federation Han Junfeng during a forum with other women's federation officials, lawyers and netizens on December 24.

Subsequently, more domestic-violence shelters will also be established in other townships within the city, said Han.

Data from the Guangdong Women's Rights and Interests Service (Dongguan Station) shows that from October 2011 to October 2014, there were 2,981 total incidents of people seeking help and protection from violence. Of this total, incidents related to marriage and family accounted for 76 percent; 485 incidents were related to domestic violence; and 464 were incidents in which the individuals seeking help were women.

Dongguan Women's Federation Vice President Peng Yan confirmed that the federation has established 626 domestic-violence-reporting sites among the city's Bai Yulan Domestic Service Centers and Women's Rights Service Stations.

According to Han, citywide surveys conducted in 2012 showed that few people were willing to seek shelter from domestic violence and thus the Dongguan Women's Federation did not establish such shelters and only used the existing shelters, such as the shelter in the civil affair departments, to protect domestic violence sufferers.

"Now that more and more women are realizing that they can seek legal protection in the event that they are subjected to domestic violence, there is an increasingly urgent need for such shelters," said Han.

Meanwhile, a non-government organization in Dongguan called Dongguan Pengxing Social Work Service is striving to establish a domestic-violence shelter of its own. "Based on our capabilities, it is not practical to build a large one," said Feng Xiangpu, chief of the program. "We will rent an apartment in the community, one that is equipped with basic living necessities and entertainment facilities. Currently, we are seeking financial aid from the public, as the total annual expense excluding manpower will be between 60,000 yuan (U.S. $9,683) and 100,000 yuan (U.S. $16,318)."

During the December 24 forum, attendees also offered their opinions and suggestions for the Law of People's Republic of China against Domestic Violence (draft), which was publicized by the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council to solicit advice from field experts and the public.

Some suggested that the legislation's definition of domestic violence should be expanded to include all forms of violence: physical, mental, sexual and economic.

Lawyer Zhang Lingyue said that violence between intimate partners — including that between intimate same-sex partners — should be considered as a form of domestic violence and that if the future law does not include all of intimate partners, ex-partners and divorced couples, many people will be left unprotected.

(Source: Guangzhou Daily/Translated and edited by Women of China)