Though enjoying legal equality with men, Chinese women still have a long way to go before they enjoy full protection of their rights.

The women's Law Research and Aid Center of Beijing University receives more than 100 complaints about the state of women's rights every month. About half of the cases concern marriage problems, and most divorce cases are caused by unfaithful husbands, said Li Ying, a lawyer in the center.

According to Chinese law, an unfaithful husband should take the major responsibility. However, the wife usually cannot get compensation due to a lack of evidence, said Li.

Also, women's property rights cannot be guaranteed in divorce cases, Li explained. Though enjoying higher incomes than 10 years ago, Chinese women are still inferior to men in financial status.

In some cases, the husband conceals part of his income during marriage, and the wife cannot get her share of the common assets upon divorce, because of a lack of evidence concerning the amount.

According to a survey by the All-China Women's Federation, there is a big gap between females and males in career opportunities. Besides, the ratio of females enjoying medical insurance, endowment insurance and unemployment insurance is lower than that of males.

"Poverty is still the biggest problem hampering women's participation in politics and employment," said Gu Xiulian, vice chair of ACWF.

Ma yinan, a professor at the Law School of Beijing University, said, "China issued the law on women's rights in 1992, which has helped to improve the protection of women's rights. However, as more social problems emerge, we need more regulations to better protect women's rights."

At the Beijing llth Women's Congress, protection of women's rights was the focus of discussion. More than one-fifth of the proposals were about women's rights.

Deputies called for the establishment of a cooperative mechanism to counter domestic violence and extend better support to single mothers and needy women.

As the largest women's organization in China, ACWF is devoted to the amendment of the law as it concerns women, to make it an efficient tool for the protection of their rights.

Close

Today's Top News		Top Lifestyle News
+No grounds to revalue yuan, experts declare ( 2003-09-15) +US$33 billion in foreign funds attracted ( 2003-09-15) +WTO trade talks collapse in Mexico ( 2003-09-15) +Experts: SARS may re-emerge ( 2003-09-15) +University student stabs eight schoolmates ( 2003-09-15)		+Women face a battle to enjoy rights ( 2003-09-15) +More than one test for SARS required to reduce misdiagnoses ( 2003-09-15) +Guangdong prepared against return of SARS ( 2003-09-15) +China holds first sports sciences seminar for disabled ( 2003-09-15) +Book rental gaining fans ( 2003-09-15)