China's top court announced Monday that approximately 33,000 personal safety protection orders have been issued over the past decade, highlighting their crucial role in combating domestic violence. These orders, akin to restraining orders in Western legal systems, are essential for protecting victims from further harm.

Chen Yifang, chief judge of the Supreme People's Court's First Civil Division, emphasized the importance of adhering to these orders. "Ignoring these orders and causing additional harm not only victimizes individuals but also undermines judicial authority and the rule of law," she said.

Chen cited a notable case involving a man surnamed Zhang, who was detained for 15 days after continuing to threaten and harass a domestic violence victim and her family via text messages, despite a court order. "This case demonstrates that personal safety protection orders carry legal weight and must be strictly adhered to. Violating them results in legal consequences," Chen explained.

She stressed that domestic violence is not merely a "private family matter" and must be addressed under the law. Despite this, many still view domestic violence as a private issue, confusing it with regular family disputes.

Ran Keping, deputy chief judge of the division, clarified that the Anti-Domestic Violence Law, effective since March 2016, explicitly defines domestic violence as physical or psychological harm inflicted by one family member on another through actions such as beating, confinement, mutilation, deprivation of personal freedom, repeated verbal abuse, or intimidation.

"Domestic violence is fundamentally about control and harm, typically ongoing, repetitive, and cyclical, rather than a one-time emotional outburst," Ran said. "In contrast, family disputes usually involve parties on equal terms who can openly express their interests. These disputes are characterized by two-way communication conflicts, fundamentally different from domestic violence," he added.

Wang Dan, another judge from the division, noted that in divorce cases where domestic violence is confirmed, Chinese courts will grant a divorce if the victim requests it. "We aim to deliver justice swiftly and in accordance with the law, ensuring the personal and property rights of domestic violence victims are protected," she said.