China approves legal draft against domestic violence

An executive meeting of the State Council, presided over by Premier Li Keqiang, has approved a draft law against domestic violence that highlights prevention and combines punishment with education.

The bill, China's first against domestic violence, was originally published by the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council last November to solicit public comments.

The draft announced on Wednesday defines clear-cut responsibilities for different social groups to prevent domestic violence, including government, social organizations, communities, schools and medical institutions.

The draft empowers social organizations and individuals to dissuade, prevent and report physical and psychological abuse within families.

It requires the police to intervene immediately once such reports are filed.

The draft also introduces a writ of habeas corpus system to guard personal security of family members, especially women and children.

The State Council decided to submit the draft to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, for deliberation.

According to the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), nearly 25 percent of Chinese women have suffered domestic violence in their marriages.

A 2010 survey conducted by the ACWF and the National Bureau of Statistics said 33.5 percent of girls and 52.9 percent of boys polled had received "physical punishments" from their parents in the past year.