A group of experts, lawyers and representatives of social organizations tackling domestic violence gathered last week to exchange ideas at a media seminar hosted by the Narada Foundation, a private public welfare foundation, and Under the Blue Sky Women and Children’s Rights Association based in Jianli, Hubei Province.
During the seminar, which focused on how different sectors could cooperate to help victims more effectively, a domestic violence survivor surnamed Wang, whose first name was not revealed for her safety, talked about how she became a volunteer after she received help which saved her from an abusive partner.
The seminar is part of the China Good Public Welfare Platform series of media seminars, which invite experts from related fields, representatives of non-profit organizations, and the media to discuss topics of public concern, aiming to actively engage social organizations in solving social problems, said Peng Yanni, secretary-general of the Narada Foundation and a representative of the event organizers.
Wang Xiying, a doctoral supervisor at the Institute of Basic Theory of Education at Beijing Normal University, made a keynote speech on domestic violence in China, with reference to current theories and research.
She pointed out that the Anti-Domestic Violence Law has been in force for nearly six years, and the more women learn about the law, the more inclined they are to ask for help. Also, police officers who are familiar with the legislation are more likely to act in domestic violence cases, demonstrating the need for the public and relevant departments to enhance their awareness of tackling domestic violence.
Other speakers included Li Ying, director of the Yuanzhong Family and Community Development Service Center, founded in 2015, which is dedicated to assisting vulnerable groups. The center has been engaged in helping to protect the rights of women and children, as well as offering legal assistance to victims of domestic violence. Starting with three real cases, Li shared observations on how multiple sectors cooperated to provide a range of services to victims of domestic violence, and outlined the role that professional lawyers can play in providing support to victims.
Under the Blue Sky Women and Children’s Rights Association initiated the “No Violence” project back in 2015. Its founder Wan Fei said that a single department cannot meet the complex needs of domestic violence victims, therefore, cooperation between the Women’s Federation, public security, civil affairs and justice departments is essential. Previous cases have shown that social organizations can play a pivotal and bridging role in such cooperation, integrating government and social resources to provide vital services to victims.
Initiated by the Narada Foundation, the China Good Public Welfare Platform series of media seminars has hosted five previous sessions on issues such as sex education, the employment of mentally disabled people, and the development of left-behind children.
