LEGISLATION is being drawn up to curb domestic violence in Shenzhen, the Daily Sunshine reported yesterday, quoting an official with the city's women's federation.

Xu Lin, head of the women's rights department of the federation, gave details at a seminar to mark International Anti-Domestic Violence Day yesterday.

"The federation is compiling statistics of domestic violence in the city as well as the progress achieved on this issue in foreign countries," Xu said. "All the information is vital to the legislation."

She said domestic violence persisted because most people did not view it as a serious offense.

"Because of this mentality, many victims of domestic violence do not seek help or take legal action against their spouses who commit the violence."

The mentality still prevails among the public. A man who attended the seminar said it was a private issue if a father resorts to physical punishment in the education of his child, according to the Daily report.

"It is commonly considered that it is no business of the government if a man beats his wife at home. They would argue that there must be some reason for the assault," said Yi Guosong, a resident at the seminar.

He said it was fundamental to change this mentality to curb domestic violence.

Meanwhile, many victims were unable to get help to stop the violence. Li Yuan, a legal expert at the city's justice bureau, told the seminar that Shenzhen was a city of immigrants where many people did not know each other well. "People are afraid of being thought of as poking their nose into someone else's business," she said.

Domestic violence was still a serious issue in the city. The Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court alone has handled nearly 25 cases of domestic violence so far this year. In September, a toddler was beaten to death by her father in Guangming New Zone in Shenzhen.

Source:Shenzhen Daily