A Chinese human rights researcher said on Thursday that there are more than 10,000 non-governmental organizations in China working to protect the rights of women.

"Their influence on policy making and legislation is increasing steadily," said Zhang Xiaoling, director of the human rights research center of the Party School of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Speaking at an international symposium on human rights, Zhang said non-governmental women's organizations have made big efforts to protect women's rights.

The symposium, a three-day event sponsored by the China Society for Human Rights Studies, has drawn more than 70 human rights experts, scholars and officials from 19 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and America.

Zhang said the women's federation, the largest non-governmental women's organization in China, has opened hotlines in most parts of the country to handle women's petitions and complaints.

Women's federations at various levels have designated more than 2,300 people to monitor the working conditions of women, she said.

The China Law Society has opened a website targeting domestic violence and championed ways to reduce domestic violence, said Zhang.

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2006)