Discussing domestic violence

"When victims call our hotline for help, we don't ask why they have been abused-the unspoken implication is that they are 'at fault', so they suffer. We ask whether their personal safety is at risk," Ding says.

According to another Beijing-based NGO, Equality, 533 cases related in some manner to domestic violence leading to the deaths of at least 635 adults and children have been reported by media between March 1, 2016 and Oct 31, 2017.

It means at least one person died per day due to domestic violence, and the majority were female.

"Victims are able to safeguard their rights and interests due to the law. But the key is that how the public security agency and people's court give full play to their functions," Li says.

Some public security officers and judicial members have not realized the nature of domestic violence and take a "negative attitude" toward implementation of the anti-domestic violence law, Li adds.

He says the law should be more detailed about what kind of situations require a personal-protection order to be issued. There should also be detailed rules and regulations to guide public security officers on how to intervene in domestic violence.

Ding suggests that the law include marital rape.

Contact the writer at xulin@chinadaily.com.cn