[File photo]

A court in Beijing has issued the city’s first protection order for a male victim of domestic violence, which shows rising legal awareness on the parts of both the government and the public, experts said.

The victim, surnamed Zhang, suffered domestic violence multiple times at the hands of his wife. Zhang documented soft tissue injuries and other severe injuries after being beaten, and was therefore granted a protection order by the local court. Under the protection order, Zhang’s wife is forbidden from harassing or hurting him in the future.

This is the first such order issued in Beijing for a male victim since China’s law on domestic violence took effect in March. Courts in many Chinese provinces, including Hunan, Hubei, Anhui and Guangdong, have also issued protection orders for male victims.

“When domestic violence occurs, male victims have started to seek legal help rather than resort to violent countermeasures. [This progress] demonstrates an improvement in legal awareness around China. In addition, China’s law on domestic violence offers a legal basis for such incidents, protecting victims regardless of their gender,” said Zhang Xinnian, a lawyer, in an interview with Chinanews.com.

Even though the law clearly stipulates that all victims should be treated equally, male victims in China are still more likely to be overlooked. According to statistics from the Sichuan Women's Federation, of the 1,845 cases of domestic violence reported in 2015, just 2 percent involved adult male victims.

“Male victims are almost invisible to authorities, including the police. Their plight is largely overlooked by the media, while traditional male stereotypes stop them from seeking legal assistance. Issuing a protection order for a man is great progress, showing that China has advanced in gender equality,” said Zhang Xuan, a Chongqing-based human rights activist.