Domestic violence costs families, society and the economy. Congratulations to China for the Law against Domestic Violence coming to effect today
China's Anti-Domestic Violence Law comes into effect on March 1, 2016. The law represents a joint effort by Chinese society, including UN agencies operating in China. The law sets out to protect women, children, the elderly, persons living with disabilities, and persons having serious illnesses against violence committed in the context of family relationships.
Today, China’s National Law against Domestic Violence comes into effect. Victims of this silent abuse finally enjoy legal protection. Today, domestic violence is no longer only a “family matter”, but an issue demanding action from the courts and law enforcement officers. The ILO congratulates the Chinese government and its civil society partners for reaching this development milestone.
More than a decade of intensive work by Chinese society, including the UN agencies operating in China, delivered a Law shielding in particular women, children, the elderly, persons living with disabilities, and persons having serious illnesses against violence committed in the context of family relationships.
Nearly 25 percent of women in China suffer at the hands of their husbands, according to survey results by the All-China Women’s Federation, but very few actually report abuse, thus perpetuating violence and impunity.
To be effective, the Law needs the whole society to participate in its application; it needs advocacy to change people’s attitudes toward domestic violence; it needs support to victims to understand their rights, and awareness among potential abusers about the legal consequences; it needs cooperation among responsible authorities to ensure the safety of victims while abuse is investigated; it needs the support of the nation to stop domestic violence.
Violence has a high cost for workers, employers and society generally. It can lead to high levels of stress, loss of motivation, increased accidents, disability, and even death. Wherever the violence takes place, it has negative repercussions in the world of work: it leads to lower productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher turnover. In some cultures the threat of violence has been a reason for limiting women to the home sphere. Globally, conservative estimates of lost productivity resulting from domestic violence in developing countries range from 1.2 of GDP to 1.4 per cent of GDP. The estimated productivity loss due to violence indicates that women experiencing violence in some countries earn 35 per cent less than those not abused, representing another significant drain on the national economy.
In 2018, the International Labour Conference will seek to set new standards guiding preventive and remedial action against “Violence against women and men in the world of work” worldwide.
More than a decade of intensive work by Chinese society, including the UN agencies operating in China, delivered a Law shielding in particular women, children, the elderly, persons living with disabilities, and persons having serious illnesses against violence committed in the context of family relationships.
Nearly 25 percent of women in China suffer at the hands of their husbands, according to survey results by the All-China Women’s Federation, but very few actually report abuse, thus perpetuating violence and impunity.
To be effective, the Law needs the whole society to participate in its application; it needs advocacy to change people’s attitudes toward domestic violence; it needs support to victims to understand their rights, and awareness among potential abusers about the legal consequences; it needs cooperation among responsible authorities to ensure the safety of victims while abuse is investigated; it needs the support of the nation to stop domestic violence.
Violence has a high cost for workers, employers and society generally. It can lead to high levels of stress, loss of motivation, increased accidents, disability, and even death. Wherever the violence takes place, it has negative repercussions in the world of work: it leads to lower productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher turnover. In some cultures the threat of violence has been a reason for limiting women to the home sphere. Globally, conservative estimates of lost productivity resulting from domestic violence in developing countries range from 1.2 of GDP to 1.4 per cent of GDP. The estimated productivity loss due to violence indicates that women experiencing violence in some countries earn 35 per cent less than those not abused, representing another significant drain on the national economy.
In 2018, the International Labour Conference will seek to set new standards guiding preventive and remedial action against “Violence against women and men in the world of work” worldwide.