Who To Call if You are a Victim of Domestic Violence

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Seeing as it’s almost Halloween, let’s talk about something to be truly scared about. According to the All China Women’s Federation, 25% of all married women in China have been victims of violence in the context of marriage. Almost 90% of the reported cases were of women suffering violence at the hands of their husbands. What’s more, of the astronomical 15.7 million women who commit suicide annually, it is estimated that a staggering 60% of them ended their lives due to domestic violence.

As we come to the end of Domestic violence awareness month, it is important to acknowledge such statistics. This year has been especially bad for victims of domestic violence. As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, so too does the time they spend with their abusers and attackers. Rates of domestic violence have seen a spike globally in this period, with many victims unable to escape their abusers or reach out to friends and family for assistance as they would under normal circumstances. But even before COVID-19, cases of domestic violence were reported to have increased despite the government introducing a Domestic Violence Law on March 1, 2016.

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On November 25, 2019, in a 12-minute long video on Weibo, famous Chinese beauty blogger, Yuya, detailed her horrific experiences at the hands of her partner, sending shockwaves across China. Following her interview, China’s Internet users took up her rallying cry through the hashtag #NoLongerSilentFacedWithDV. Despite all this, some sufferers of domestic violence still feel unprotected, even under the law. The Domestic Violence Law itself does cover both physical and psychological violence, without explicitly including sexual violence like marital rape. It also doesn’t mention any protection when it comes to same-sex relationships.

So what can you do, if you are a sufferer of domestic violence? Luckily, there are hotlines that you can call to receive the assistance that you need.

 Know the police hotline by heart!!

When in a dangerous situation, your best and fastest bet is to call the police via 110. When called upon, police in Beijing are generally known to arrive relatively quickly so do not hesitate to call. If you are not in a position to call, then you can send an SMS to 12110.

You can also call the Women’s rights protection public service hotline, 12338, to receive psychological support or even shelter.

Other resources:

Beijing Hongfeng Women’s Psychological Counseling ServiceCenter

Phone: [phone]

Beijing Yuanzhong Gender Development Center

Phone: [phone]

Beijing Qianqian Law Firm (formerly Women’s Law Research Center, Peking University Law School)

Phone: [phone]

The Home of Migrant Girls in Beijing Nongjia Women Cultural Development Center

Phone: [phone]

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Photos: Unsplash 

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