China’s first online anti-domestic violence service was launched in
Hangzhou recently. Abuse victims can upload evidence, call police, apply
for refuge, seek legal aid and ask for psychological counseling through
the applet on WeChat.To get more
hangzhou news, you can visit shine news official website.
Under
this initiative, police officers are required to respond immediately to
domestic abuse calls, civil affairs administrations are expected to
provide refuge, health commissions identify injuries and the courts can
issue writs. As the initiator of this platform, the Hangzhou Women’s
Federation is going to provide follow-up assistance and counseling.
Since
the country’s first law against domestic violence came into effect two
years ago, the number of family violence cases reported has increased in
the city.
“That doesn’t mean the spousal abuse situation is
getting worse,” said Chen Liaomin, vice justice of the Xihu District
People’s Court. “On the contrary, it shows that more brave women are
taking a stand and accusing their husbands of domestic abuse.”
Recently, Chen was temporarily transferred to the Hangzhou Women’s Federation and put in charge of women’s protection.
As she learned more about the state of family violence in her new role, she came up with the idea of the online platform.
“The
family violence cases in the courts are far fewer than what I have seen
in the women’s federation,” said Chen. “Many victims failed to file a
complaint due to lack of evidence.”
Solid evidence is vital,
especially for writs of habeus corpus. Last year, Hangzhou only issued a
few writs, because the courts must check the evidence quite rigorously.
“Many
victims didn’t have an idea of what valid evidence really is,” Chen
said. “Some of them even brought diaries that depicted the then
situation to accuse husbands of abuse. That cannot work.”
On the platform, users can upload voice recordings, videos and photos to support allegations of violence.
“The
best way to protect yourself when suffering domestic violence is
reporting it to the police as soon as possible,” Chen said. “A police
investigation could prove the evidence, and help victims if they later
decide to file for a divorce conciliation or a lawsuit.”
Jianggan
District police adopt a three-level mechanism to protect victims and
crack down domestic violence. Punishment varies according to seriousness
of the abuse.
“A warning writ will be issued if a man is found
abusing for the first time,” said Liao Erhui from the Jianggan District
Police Bureau. “If reported for a second time within a year, he will be
summoned to the police office. The abuser will be detained for three to
15 days if he is accused of beating his wife a third time and causing
slight injuries.”
The three-level mechanism has proved out
effective in lowering abuse rates. Last year, Jianggan District has
issued 667 writs, summoned 127 and detained five abusers. The cases have
dropped 31.9 percent, and the second reporting cases reduced 53.8
percent compared with 2016, according to the report of China Women’s
News.
“Some of the accused fear that the writ may bring some
trouble when they apply for visas to other countries,” said Liao.
“Actually it won’t. But the fear shows that the writ is working. But we
acknowledge that some victims have been too ashamed or afraid to step
forward. There is still much violence hidden in families.”
The mechanism is being implemented across Hangzhou and it is hoped publicity will also help reduce physical and emotional abuse.
Emotional abuse has been relatively neglected.
“Formerly,
the public had wrongly considered domestic violence as something that
happens in families that are not very well educated,” Chen told Shanghai
Daily. “Actually, a number of spousal abuse cases, especially emotional
abuse, occur in well-off, educated families.
The Wall