Violence at home target of new law

A women holds a boatd reading "Anti domestic violence and no harm." [Photo/IC]

Domestic violence

could result in penalties as severe as the death sentence, according to a guideline jointly released by the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday. China's first law against domestic violence will be submitted for a reading in August, according to Fu Ying, spokeswoman of the 12th National People's Congress at Wednesday's news conference in Beijing. Comments:

Imperfect as it may be, the first law against domestic violence has absorbed the best suggestions that the country has come up with. A compulsory accountability mechanism for reporting home violence has been included in the law. Hence, should it be put into effect, promotion is needed to make sure that all resort to and activate every clause of it.

Zhang Rongli, an associate professor at China Women's University, Mar 3

It is more than necessary for China to legislate against domestic violence. The newly released guideline is designed to offer better protection for the victims, by dividing domestic violence into physical and mental violence. Should the law come into effect, it is foreseeable that fewer people will face violations of their basic rights at home and more of those that do will seek legal protection.

Nanfang Daily, Mar 5

Traditional social values claiming that "domestic affairs should never be made public" have had a great influence on the longstanding existence of domestic violence in China. However, fairer relationships in a family and higher levels of education are necessary to reduce the prevalence of domestic fights. To achieve that, all family members should be given equal opportunities to develop.

Zhi Zhenfeng, deputy editor of Global Law Review magazine, Mar 5