Specific law on domestic abuse needed

The divorce case of the "Crazy English couple" was settled on Sunday with Kim Lee, the abused wife, getting 12 million yuan ($1.93 million) worth of property and 50,000 yuan as compensation for the trauma she suffered. The Beijing court that settled the divorce case also gave Lee the custody of the couple's three daughters and asked Crazy English franchise founder Li Yang to pay 100,000 yuan for each of the girls as annual child support until each reaches 18 years of age.

Though the end of the high-profile divorce saga is good news for domestic violence victims and women activists before Spring Festival, there is no time for celebration especially because there is still no specific legislation against domestic violence. The endeavor to have one, however, is on and last-ditch efforts are being made to save a woman on death row for murdering her abusive husband.

Li Yang was not even present in court when the verdict was passed. The final hearing in the first proceedings of the Crazy English couple case took place in August and was closed to the public on Li's request. Anti-domestic violence activists waited outside for hours, hoping that Lee would emerge to claim "victory" over domestic violence.