Anti-Domestic Violence Law: Sufferer: the law should protect me better

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China's first Anti-domestic Violence Law will have been in effect for two years this March. Wu Guoxiu speaks to one woman to hear how she sought help to escape her abuser through the law.

In 2001, a TV series called "Don't Talk to Strangers" raised the domestic-violence issue among the public. The scenes are hard to forget. In real life, the fists never stopped. For this lady, Lily, which isn't her real name, she suffered something she never wants to have to remember.

"When my baby was one month old, I bought some nutrition pills. He said I didn't ask him and had wasted money, then he hit me."

And from then on, she suffered a lot more at his hands, for over two years.

"I endured it because I don't want my kid to lose a parent. But I felt very scared when I heard his voice."

Until someone told her to find a lawyer, who helped her sue for a divorce. But greater difficulties arose when she had to present the evidence.

"To collect the evidence, I had to go back to the family home. I took an audio-recorder, but I was so scared about getting hit again. The other evidence was police records. I had to find the exact police officer I spoke to. But I didn't remember his name, so I went to the police station again and again, searched every room until I found him."

WU GUOXIU BEIJING "Two years since the anti-domestic violence law was enacted, some suffers and lawyers still think the law was not well promoted and implemented."

Her lawyer, Mr. Lyu Xiaoquan has been offering free assistance to women and children for years. Lyu says though more people went to him for help since the law was enacted, the courts' rate of confirming domestic violence had taken place hasn't changed much.

LYU XIAOQUAN, LAWYER BEIJING QIANQIAN LAW FIRM "The court system has internal records. For every 10 cases the court hears related to domestic violence, only one ends in conviction. Almost no changes from two years ago. I think it's mainly because the plaintiff alone is asked to present evidence. I think the defendant should also prove themselves if they say they didn't do it."

The anti-domestic violence law allows victims to file for a personal protection order. Reports say that by October 2017, courts have issued 1,830 personal protection orders across the country.

Lily won her case, but she wants a more severe punishment for her abuser. The court ordered the man to pay 31-thousand yuan or just under 5-thousand US dollars in damages, but he has refused to pay one cent. While she's celebrating her freedom, she's also helping her friend take up the weapon of the law. Wu Guoxiu, CGTN, Beijing. Wu Guoxiu, CGTN, Beijing.