China is in the midst of rapid economic development. As such, women face new types of challenges to their rights. The Center for Women’s Law Studies and Legal Services of Peking University provides pro-bono legal services to Chinese women of all backgrounds. Founded in 1995 as a public interest law firm, the center conducts research on women’s issues. As part of their work, they have been litigating “representative cases”. These cases carry great importance for the socio-economic struggles of Chinese women.
The Center’s Method
The Center has five departments: administrative, legal inquiry, litigation, research, and internet correspondence. To make services more accessible the center answers a lot of legal inquiries. But, it does not litigate every case brought to its attention. Rather, it focuses on those that address contemporary women’s issues and set a precedent for future cases. By narrowing its focus the center has been able to make large-scale social impact with a small staff. The cases also give the media a focal point for broadcasting women’s issues. Giving them a way to air such struggles as sexual harassment and domestic abuse. The center also does outreach through public awareness campaigns. Including: making presentations at local labor unions, factories, and other women’s organizations. The center also has close connections to prominent government officials. They advocate for the center’s work in the People’s Congress and in the media.
Challenging Legal Barriers
The center has processed over 20,000 inquiries. They have also litigated over 60 major representative lawsuits. It serves a wide range of constituents. These include poor women, migrant women workers, retired female officials, professional women, and victims of domestic abuse and sexual harassment. The center has focused on many issues. Including; early retirement of female government officials, discriminatory gynecology examinations as a precondition to employment, and the rights of married women. It has also focused on divorce law, labor law, and gender discrimination across all spheres of life.
Landmark Case Highlighted
The Center has won many landmark cases. For instance, in February of 1997, 25 migrant women workers brought a case to the center. Their boss refused to pay wages for over two years. Despite being supposedly reprimanded by the local labor rights investigation committee. The center filed a lawsuit against the company. First, with the local primary courts, who found the top company official innocent. Then with the intermediary people’s courts. In fall of 1999, the intermediate People’s Court ruled in favor of the migrant women. The company was ordered to pay 160,000 in indemnities. And the company officials were held responsible. This case is only one of many that have sparked national and international attention. These cases allow the center to make policy suggestions to law-making bodies.
One challenge the center faces is assessing its impact on policymaking. This is because it is hard to isolate the sources of legal reforms. Yet, the center receives a large amount of publicity domestically and internationally. This alows them to exert pressure on the Chinese government. Pressuring them to implement existing laws or to reform them. The Center serves as a model for other NGO’s in China. It thrives from the unique way in which it selects is cases. Building a solid foundation of public support by establishing ties with the media, government delegates, and law professionals.
