Beijing Women's Federation

Article 49 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China stipulates: “Marriage, families, mothers and children shall be protected by the state.” On December 12, the Beijing Women’s Federation (BWF), together with the Beijing High People’s Court, the People’s Procuratorate of Beijing Municipality, the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice, the Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, and the Beijing Federation of Trade Unions, jointly released the 2024 Landmark Cases on Legal Protection of Women’s and Children’s Rights in Beijing. 

The press conference aligns with the guiding principles of the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s directives on directives on advancing initiatives related to women, children, and women’s federations, reinforcing the legal framework for safeguarding the rights of women and children while guiding women to enhance their legal awareness and protect their rights in accordance with the law.

At the conference, representatives highlighted the efforts and achievements in protecting women’s and children’s rights in Beijing and addressed questions from journalists.

Since May 2024, 52 cases related to women’s and children’s rights resolved over the past two years had been shortlisted following initial citywide reviews. After evaluations by experts from judicial authorities, academic institutions, and relevant departments, 13 cases, including Wu’s Application for a Personal Safety Protection Order, were selected for public release. 

The selected cases include the city’s first instance of a residents’ committee acting as a temporary guardian in a minor’s property damage lawsuit, a court injunction addressing minor abduction during divorce proceedings, the imposition of maximum penalties for remote sexual harassment of minors, legal aid initiatives facilitating active mediation to secure child support payments after divorce, a public interest litigation filed by procuratorial organs to promote the standardized construction of baby care rooms, and multi-department collaboration to effectively address visitation enforcement challenges for minor children. These cases address diverse aspects of women’s and children’s rights, encompassing personal safety, property rights, labor and social security, and marriage and family matters.

Since 2016, Beijing has released landmark cases on the protection of women’s and children’s rights every two years, publishing a total of 56 cases to date. These cases address key challenges in protecting women’s and children’s rights in the new era, reflecting the city’s commitment to a people-centered approach supported by the joint efforts of the state, judicial bodies, and mass organizations. They exemplify the effectiveness of Beijing’s Party-government-led approach in the protection of women’s and children’s rights while providing insights for handling litigation and resolving issues related to women’s rights protection. 

This initiative is a practical measure to implement the 8th five-year plan for promoting legal awareness and education, aimed at encouraging women to respect, understand, abide by, and effectively use the law. It also plays a vital role in fostering an environment that supports gender equality and protects the legal rights of women and children.

Representatives from the BWF, Beijing High People’s Court, People’s Procuratorate of Beijing Municipality, Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice, Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, and Beijing Federation of Trade Unions addressed the press conference, which was attended by over 70 participants, including representatives from various departments, district-level women’s federations, women-led organizations, and members of the media.