Women's Safety in Hong Kong: Eliminating Domestic Violence
The Women's Commission published a report in January 2006 entitled Women's Safety in Hong Kong: Eliminating Domestic Violence. In the Report, the Commission recommends a multi-dimensional strategy to eliminate domestic violence, and advocates gender awareness, gender equality and mutual respect, and involving men in the process. The Commission also advocates policy, service and legal changes. The Report puts forward a total of 21 recommendations covering law reform; services; publicity; professional knowledge-sharing, documentation and research; hospitals, health and medical sectors; gender mainstreaming and gender-related training; early identification and intervention; and community networking.
Since the Report was published, relevant government bureaux / departments, public bodies as well as concerned NGOs have responded positively to our recommendations. Throughout 2006 and 2007, the Commission has met with the Social Welfare Department (SWD), Hong Kong Police Force, Housing Department, the then Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, Labour and Welfare Bureau, Home Affairs Bureau, Legal Aid Department, Hospital Authority, the Alliance for the Reform of Domestic Violence Ordinance, and many others to exchange views on the recommendations and share with the Commission their new initiatives in protecting women's safety. Specific issues discussed included the Government's proposed amendments to the Domestic Violence Ordinance (DVO), SWD's publicity efforts and Police's improvement measures in combating domestic violence, application procedure for legal aid for victims of domestic violence, and training for health care professionals. In March 2008, the Commission also held four sharing sessions with women's groups, NGOs and service agencies on efforts made by the local communities in combating domestic violence. A supplement to the Report was published in August 2009 to take stock of developments and aspects that require continuous efforts.
The Commission's recommendations have obtained the support and recognition of the Government, women's groups, concerned stakeholders and others in the wider community. For example, in the Government's proposal to amend the DVO, significant improvements had been made to the existing legislation, such as extending the scope of "protected person" to cover former spouses or cohabitees and also members of immediate and extended families, and extending the conditions for attaching an authorisation of arrest to a non-molestation order by the court. A pilot project on Batterer Intervention Programme had also been introduced by the SWD between January 2006 and March 2008. Furthermore, the services and support for victims of domestic violence have also been strengthened.
Download "Women's Safety in Hong Kong: Eliminating Domestic Violence"
Download "Women's Safety in Hong Kong: Eliminating Domestic Violence – An Update and the Next Step"
