South China's Guangdong Province will open more domestic
violence shelters in response to the rising number of child abuse
cases.
The shelters will be located in the heart of residential
communities.
Cases of family violence against children have increased by
about 20 percent across the province over the past two decades,
with many victims seriously injured due to the lack of effective
protective shelters offered by government.
"We have found that a growing number of children has been
subjected to physical violence at home in recent years," Zhang
Liling, director of the Children's Department of the Guangdong
Provincial Women's Federation, said.
"And more protective shelters along with province-wide
surveillance systems on child abuse will soon be set up for the
victims of domestic violence."
In a recent case, a three-year-old girl from Baiyun District of
Guangzhou, was locked in a toilet for nearly a month by her mother.
The girl has also been "seriously" physically abused by her parents
after they had a big quarrel.
"In this case, the girl, unfortunately, fell victim to her
parents' bad relationship," Zhang said. "As a governmental
authority, we must offer help to children who are neglected by
their parents."
Two residential communities in Foshan will trial a new
anti-abuse "surveillance system".
"Temporary shelters for child victims of domestic violence will
also be set up in the two communities, to provide necessary
psychological rehabilitation and comfort for them," Zhang said.
The women's federation will work with schools, departments of
health and social security to promote children's rights.
The establishment of shelters for physically abused children
coincides with the Campaign of Prevention of Violence Against
Children, launched last June by the United Nation's Children Fund
(UNICEF) in Guangdong, Zhejiang and Shanxi provinces.
Under the campaign, a series of studies on children's
development will be carried out and measures will be set up in the
province.
Zhang said residents are encouraged to report suspected cases of
child abuse via a new telephone hotline, soon to be set up.
(China Daily March 27, 2007)