Guang Yahong, a middle-age Tianjin native, never expected that her miserable life would eventually lead her to a workshop dedicated to survivors of domestic violence.

"I felt so lonely and afraid when I arrived at the meeting for women in Tianjin who suffer domestic violence," Guang recalled in a workshop in Beijing dedicated to training people who want to work in anti-domestic-violence programs. The workshop lasted from May 18 to 20, two months after the launch of China's first law against domestic violence.

From 1994 to 1997, Guang was beaten 11 times by her husband, Guang said.

"Given the respect that I obtained from the forum in 2014, I started to realize that there is a group of people dedicated to anti-domestic-violence work and understand that women are not born to be bullied," said Guang, who is now the leader of an anti-domestic violence club and a volunteer for anti-domestic-violence programs.

Zhen Yan, deputy director of the Committee of Social and Legal Affairs of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and director of the Research Center of Marriage and Families, said, "Women who frequently succumbed to domestic violence need to be safeguarded and protected by law."

The law against domestic violence was passed with overwhelmingly support at the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Dec. 27, 2015.

"The recent announcement of China's first law against domestic violence is a step forward for preventing domestic violence and protecting victims in China," said Julia Broussard, the country programme manager of UN Women.

Attended by delegates from 10 different provinces, municipalities and regions across the country, including Tianjin, Hebei, Heilongjiang, the workshop encouraged people prone to domestic violence to protect themselves with the law.

Jia Yunfeng, a male participant in the workshop and also a police officer from Hengshui City, Hebei Province, said: "Influenced by traditional mindsets, domestic violence was always been taken as a matter of people's private affairs."

"The ancient social orders that took family as a haven excluded from legal penalties no longer apply to a society which is governed by law and seeks to ensure equality and democracy to all of its citizens," said Li Mingshun, Party secretary and deputy president of China Women's University.

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