A shelter for victims of domestic violence will begin operation next month in Chengdu, Sichuan province. The facility will offer lodging and accomodation for up to 10 days to adults and children, who are victims of domestic abuse and do not have a place to stay. The shelter will also help residents the victims get in touch with helpful government agencies.

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The Chengdu Civil Affairs Bureau revealed that victims have the option of filing an application to stay longer at the shelter if they wish to. The shelter will seek assistance from public agencies and social relief groups for legal and medical help aid in dealing with family disputes and psychological counselling, if necessary.

The shelter will utilize Chengdu Women's Rights Protection Center's existing facilities including bedrooms, activity area and psychological counselling room. Luo Li, a bureau's official, said the shelter has been decorated with paintings and panda toys placed on desks with the aim of creating a family atmosphere.

The center prioritizes children, who will be cared for by social workers and probably sent to host families. Luo emphasized that the shelter also accepts men who have been abused too.

The shelter was established following the anti-family violence law implemented across China. Other refuge centers like Chengdu have also been set  up in Sichuan's Dazhou, Jiangsu province's Nanjing and Henan province's Zhengzhou.

According to All-China Women's Federation, domestic violence exists in 30 percent of Chinese families. Counselors believe that the social taboo of domestic shame not being made public is likely to account for the low occupancy rate of anti-domestic violence centers. 

Tagschina, Child abuse, women abuse, domestic violence