Domestic violence is a crime in China from Tuesday, with the entry into force of the first law against this scourge, considered a triumph for feminists after more than a decade of struggle to get "ill treatment" are punishable in the country.
The law was approved by the Chinese legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC) on 27 December, after changing several times the drafts presented.
The law is a historic step for China, as it fails to consider domestic violence a "private" or "family" affair and becomes crime.
It is also considered a historic triumph for the collective defense of women, who since the 90s asking for a law like the present, although still believe it may be improved.
The new law defines domestic violence as "physical, psychological harm or otherwise" and are seen as manifestations of that abuse, both physical abuse and psychological.
Allusions to emotional violence were not included in the first versions, although the authorities introduced after criticism by feminist organizations and other groups.
The regulations also accepted as domestic violence situations that occur in cases of cohabitation, when couples are unmarried, another claim of feminist groups who did not pick up the first drafts.
However, it is critical that did not include violence between same-sex couples, a measure which, according to the affected groups, have helped combat the stigma surrounding the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) China.