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The
revised legislation comes as activists have expressed concern
about increasing government rhetoric on the value traditional
women's roles and what some see as setbacks for women's rights
and more restrictive attitudes towards abortion.
But it is not clear to what extent those more conservative
attitudes will be reflected in the revised law.
It is the first time in nearly 30 years that the law on women's
protection is being revised. The draft "Women's Rights and
Interests Protection Law" was submitted to the Standing
Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the official
Xinhua news agency said.
The latest draft has not been released to the public but tens of
thousands of people sent in suggestions for what they would like
to see in it, the NPC said on its website.
Xinhua said the draft "strengthens the protection of the rights
and interests of disadvantaged groups such as poor women,
elderly women, and disabled women".
Employers will be held to account if women's labour and social
security rights and interests are violated, while obstructing
the rescue of trafficked and kidnapped women will be specified
as an offence.
The responsibility of local authorities to rescue trafficked and
abducted women will also be set out, Xinhua said.
Images posted online early this year of a woman in chains caused
outrage and stirred debate about the handling of human
trafficking, particularly in rural areas where the issue has
been documented for years.
No date has been set for the passing of the draft legislation
into law.
(Reporting by Farah Master and Albee Zhang; Editing by Robert
Birsel)
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