Women facing domestic violence, homelessness and other personal crises will soon have places to stay and relax as the Guangzhou Women's Federation is planning to build special homes for women.
An official with the federation based in prosperous Guangzhou City, in south China's Guangdong Province, said most Chinese women tended to keep silent when suffering domestic violence.
"But in fact they need someone to talk to," said the official who declined to give her name.
They were expected to find comfort outside their own homes, she said.
The special women's homes would be established in communities with adequate accommodation so that temporary homeless women could stay for a while.
Legal and psychology professionals as well as social workers will provide services to women seeking help.
The homes will also act as schools to train poorly educated women who fail to find jobs.
The project was supported by local departments of civil affairs, health, education and the judiciary, said the official.
She said a city-wide questionnaire would be launched next year to prepare for the project.
(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2002)
