Women's studies experts have urged the society to pay more attention to mothers, as Mother's Day was celebrated in a number of countries yesterday.

Domestic violence remains the most serious issue facing women and children in modern society, according to Zhai Yan, assistant to the director of the Beijing-based Women's Psychological Counseling Centre.

"Domestic violence and social stability are reciprocal," said Zhai. "If intervention for domestic violence is given in time and is well controlled, social stability can be upgraded."

Women and children are considered the most vulnerable groups in society. Many women have called the Maple Women's Hotline and appealed to people from all walks of life to create a peaceful social environment.

When domestic brutality is not stopped, there will be immense negative effects on children growing up in such families, marriages can easily collapse and deaths may occur. These children have a much higher tendency to use violence themselves when they become adults, according to a professor from the East China University of Politics and Law.

After Beijing's hosting of the World Women's Congress in 1995, domestic violence became a hot topic and an issue for lawmakers. Since then, organizations, centers, workshops and hotlines in cities, provinces and municipalities have been founded to increase public awareness and to prevent and stop domestic violence.

Another problem relevant revealed through the hotline is that abused women tend to become abusers to their children, said Zhai. Statistics show women beat children more often than men do in Chinese families where there is domestic violence.

In recent years, the increased amount and degree of domestic violence has largely been due to mental health problems and poor living conditions during China's economic reform and opening-up drive, according to the Women's Studies Institute of China affiliated with the All-China Women's Federation.

"To fight domestic violence is a systemic social program that involves attention and watchfulness from the legislation field, medical services and community intervention," said Wang Simei, deputy director of the institute.

(China Daily May 13, 2002)