Taizhou (a city in East China's Zhejiang Province) Public Security Bureau and Taizhou Women's Federation recently promulgated the municipal public security agencies' standards for handling cases involving domestic violence. The event was intended to protect the legal rights and interests of victims (of domestic violence), especially women and children.

In accordance with the standards, the definition of "domestic violence" should include various forms of violence, including physical and mental abuse, abandoning of one's directly related member(s) of his/ her family (such as one's parents, spouse and children). The standards also stipulate online behavior that inflicts mental harm or suffering on family members should be defined as "domestic violence."

The standards define the responsibilities of public security agencies in handling cases involving domestic violence. In accordance with the standards, a police station must send police officers to the scene of an incident within a short time after the station receives a report of domestic violence. The officers must impose a penalty on the perpetrator (including issuing a warning to the perpetrator), in accordance with the law. The officers must also send the victim to a hospital or a healthcare center for treatment, and if necessary, provide shelter to the victim(s) of the violence.

In addition, the standards outline the procedures for handling cases involving domestic violence, so police officers can improve their work efficiency.

The standards also urge various organizations to work together to combat domestic violence. For example, workers with women's federations, at all levels in Taizhou, should help public security agencies handle cases involving domestic violence.

(Women of China English Monthly October 2020 issue)