Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality has become the first city in China to launch a "one-stop" platform to speedily procure restraining orders in cases of domestic violence.

The municipality recently saw its top political advisors gather to talk about solutions to a range  of issues, including domestic violence.

The measure involves a "one-stop" policy that facilitates the application of restraining orders. The online platform makes it easier for victims to submit evidence, including videos, photos, police and medical reports. It also brings police, the courts and civil society together in checking the application.

Justice Liu Xinyan from Chongqing's Tongnan District Court said before the platform was in place, victims of domestic violence needed to go to several departments for various procedures for their case was admitted by courts. With the one-stop solution, Liu said, the restraining orders can be issued within hours.

"The perpetrator will be fined, detained or charged if they violate the terms, which differ in each case but basically include the prohibition of physical and verbal abuse as well as harassment or following the victims or their family members," said Liu.

According to official data, restraining orders issued in January almost equaled in number to orders issued in a year before the platform went online.

Time is vital in dealing with cases of domestic violence, said Chief Justice Tian Xiaomei of Chongqing High People's Court. Although China's first law against domestic violence came into force in 2016, many victims, especially those in rural areas, are not well applying the law for protecting their legal rights. 

Tian said some victims find it too complicated to apply for restraining orders while many yet don't know about it in the first place. With the procedure simplified, she said, victims can complete the application at their fingertips, without worrying about their spouses getting more violent during the waiting period.

In recent years, public awareness on domestic violence in China has grown due to several tragic cases. Last September, a vlogger in Sichuan Province was killed by her ex-husband, who had followed and threatened her for months before finally setting the young woman on fire. The video of the vlogger holding her divorce certificate and saying she felt "safe already" brought many to think why the option of a restraining order never crossed her mind.

Some women would think a restraining order is useless, said Wu Ling, director of rights protection office at Chongqing's Women Federation, but they don't know that a piece of paper would stop their husbands from beating them. "Domestic violence isn't a family affair. It's a violation of law," Wu said. "Our mission is to promote that idea, especially in rural areas."