Women representatives from Chinese mainland, Macao and Hong Kong
discussed on Saturday the problems and solutions for women to
combat domestic violence and poverty at the 2004 Women's
Conference.
Chairwoman of Guangdong Provincial Women's Federation said that,
although women's status has been enhanced in the fields of
politics, economics, culture and family, family violence still
exists in some households. She said grievous domestic violence not
only jeopardizes women's safety, damages the reins between husband
and wife, but also leads to family conflicts and social problems.
Therefore, there is a need to work out solutions to the
problem.
Social Worker of Macao Good Shepherd Center Debbie Lai shared
her experience of domestic violence. She said that,?shackled
by traditional thoughts, women usually tend not to report violence
that happened in their family. They think it is a shame to let a
third person to know they are facing such a family problem. Lai
suggested that, public education is one of the effective ways to
combat domestic violence.
Executive Director of Hong Kong Harmony House Margaret Wong
pointed out that domestic violence is a global social problem with
women being the prime victims. She said that progress in terms of
public education and victims support has been made in the last
decade in Hong Kong. She suggested that resources and input have to
be allocated to treatment for batteries and child witness to
domestic violence.
Wong also said that prevention of domestic violence has
ultimately to be linked with education for younger generation to
promote gender equality and mutual respect for all human beings,
men and women.
At the session of Women and Eradication of Poverty, Niu Lihua,
Vice Director of Women's Development Department of All-China
Women's Federation, believed that elimination of women's poverty is
the important contents of improvement of women's status and
promotion of the sustained development.
As introduced by Niu, All-China Women's Federation has organized
activities at all levels to help women shake off poverty. The
Federation has provided women with employment posts and
opportunities, which directly helped 2 million rural women out of
poverty.
Member of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)
Legislative Council Chan Yuen Han said that, although Hong Kong is
one of the world's most wealthy region, many women from the grass
root are still suffering from poverty in the city. She pointed out
that sex discrimination still exists?on the?labor market,
which is one of the reasons that lead to the unemployment problem
among women.
Chan suggested that the SAR government should set up measures to
protect women's right of having reasonable wage and working hours
in order to improve the living standards of women from the grass
root.
(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2004)