Domestic violence poses a severe threat to women's rights in China with the authorities receiving about 50,000 complaints annually, according to the figures released by the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) on Saturday.

The figure meant one in every ten of the complaints or calls of complaint from the people to the ACWF and the local women federations is about domestic violence.

"The conjugal violence has grown into a potential threat to the social stability," said Jiang Yue'e, head of the ACWF's rights and interests department.

"It is also a major cause that leads to divorces and potential crimes."

According to Jiang, domestic violence occurred in both cities and the rural areas. It is prevalent in the rural areas where about 800 million people live. Domestic violence also took place among the population receiving higher education.

"The victims are mainly women and children, inflicting both physical and psychological pain on them," said her.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2009)