A sanctuary for women opened Thursday in
Tianjing,
a port city in north China, in a bid to help victims of domestic
violence.
Located in Dasi Township in Xiqing District, the sanctuary was set
up by the Women's Federation of Tianjin in cooperation with the
Civil Affairs Bureau of Tianjin Municipal government.
A
spokesperson for the sanctuary, known as the Women's Aid Center of
Tianjin, said it would offer help to local women suffering from
domestic violence and needy women abducted from outside
Tianjin.
Women from outside Tianjin may seek asylum in the center if they
are victims of domestic violence with legal identification
documents, residency and legal sources of income.
Eligible women may take underage children to shelter in the
sanctuary, said the spokesperson.
The center will provide food and shelter to eligible women for
three to five days, while helping collect evidence for the victims,
as well as medical services, psychological therapy and legal
advice.
The center will arrange appointments and mediation between the
victims and their husbands if requested, and protect the privacy of
the victims.
The spokesperson said it would create a network involving police,
welfare institutions, courts, job agencies and legal advice and
medical institutions so as to help the victims out of their
difficult situations.
(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2003)