China's top court says children who witness domestic violence are also victims

China's top court said Monday that children who are forcibly seized or hidden and are witnesses to domestic violence should also be identified as victims of the harm.

The Supreme People's Court stressed the provision by disclosing six typical domestic violence cases involving children.

In March 2022, for example, a man surnamed Cai and a woman surnamed Tang divorced, and a court awarded the custody of their child to Tang. Dissatisfied with the ruling, Cai took the child away alone.

Under the court's effort, the child was sent back to the mother in April this year, but a month later, Cai came to Tang, trying to forcibly seize the child. Without Tang's permission, the two adults argued with each other, and Cai battered Tang despite the child's crying.

The violent seizure also injured the child's face, making the child undergo multiple mental health problems, such as being afraid of going to school and suffering from emotional instabilities.

To keep the child away from such acts, the court eventually gave a personal safety protection order, which is similar to restraining order issued in the West, to the child, showing Chinese courts' zero-tolerance of domestic violence.

On Monday, the top court also lauded a mandatory system, which requires individuals and departments to report anyone suspected of doing harm to children to public security organs, saying that it has played a big role in preventing minors from domestic violence.

While calling for government agencies, community or village committees, educational institutes, schools and kindergartens to continue timely reporting clues of children who allegedly suffer from harms, the top court added that stronger supports should also be provided for minors in danger, ordering the departments to pay closer attention to minors' mental health.

On Saturday, at the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which falls on Nov 25 every year, the top court has issued a few influential cases of domestic violence, with a pledge to continue the intensified efforts to efficiently deal with relevant cases and prevent victims from being further harmed.