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."
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.
