法院与警察处理更多家庭暴力案件

November 25th marks the United Nation's World Anti-Domestic Violence Day and in China, the problem is gaining growing attention; with authorities and women taking uNPRecedented action against it.

In this crowded classroom, survivors of domestic violence from across China are learning how to fight back. Their faces are blurred for their safety.

Miss Wen. whose name we have changed; divorced her husband 18 years ago. But the memories are still fresh.

"During the five years of my marriage, my husband beat me and swore at me, when he was drunk. One month after I gave birth to our first child, he beat me badly. My hip and eye-brow bones were broken. My teeth were broken. My head, swollen. The police asked me: ’why on earth did your husband beat you?’ It was as if they thought it was my problem. They told me my case was a family dispute. They didn’t take pictures of my injuries, or record my evidence," A domestic violence survivor said.

In the past, a lack of police procedures to deal with domestic violence in China has let it continue. Today though, this cop is listening to; and coaching; survivors. He’s been a policeman in Hunan province for seventeen years.  And says they’re now trained to deal with domestic violence.

"In 1995, authorities in Hunan legislated against domestic violence. Learning how to handle such cases is now a mandatory part of our training," Ou-Yang Yanwen, instructor with Hunan Police Academy, said.

According to a national survey by the All-China Women’s Federation, one in four married women in China has suffered from domestic violence, including physical and sexual abuse.

While common, domestic violence is widely seen as a private matter in China. Few are willing to speak out.

One woman who did, is Kim Lee. After posting pictures of her injuries online, she divorced her ex-husband; Crazy English franchise founder, Li Yang; on grounds of domestic violence.

The Beijing court also granted her custody of their three daughters and around 2 million US dollars worth of properties, along with around 8 thousand dollars for mental anguish.

She’s donating the money to training police, service providers and survivors.

"I’m happy to say my ex-husband’s appeal was rejected. I care about the other women who are not where I am yet. Today we had several participants who are still in the midst of it. But the most important part was .having Chinese women - Chinese domestic violence sufferers - speak out," Lee said.

More survivors like Lee are now defending themselves in China’s courts. The Beijing High People’s Court received 217 domestic violence cases in 2005. Tripling to 657, in 2011. But while domestic violence falls under many provincial laws in China.A national law has yet to be passed.

"We are working to persuade the country’s legislature to set up a new anti-domestic violence law. We are also trying to find more practical ways to assist survivors," Jiang Yue’e, fmr. director-general of Women’s Rights Dept., All-China Women’s Fed., said.

For Miss Wen and her son, the scars run deep.

"Now my life is calm, but it still affects me mentally. It affects my social life - and my son. At the time, he was only two. It happened at night - and he saw the blood. It went everywhere, including onto him. After that, he couldn’t sleep without screaming. By the time he was five, he couldn’t look at anything red. As he grew up, we tried different therapies. Now, he seems almost normal, but I think he is still affected, inside," A domestic violence survivor said.

With more police, courts and women in China now tackling domestic violence, hope is growing here for those who survive it.