Beijing University Women’s Legal Aid Center ("the Center") was established in December 1995. Staff members consist of law professors, graduate students from Beijing University and other institutes of higher education and part-time lawyers from law offices.
The Center is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that is the first of its kind in China, devoted to providing legal aid and studies of women's rights. On June 18, 2002, the Governing Council was set up to offer guidance, coordination and supervision for the Center. The Center has two co-directors, one from the leadership of School of Law and one in charge of the projects. The two directors are respectively responsible to the School of Law and the Governing Council. The Center has the following departments: office of general affairs, consulting services, litigation group, research group and journals, and internet group.
What we want to do
We are committed to defending women's rights by providing legal aid services to women in need. We aim at heightening women's consciousness of their rights and enhancing their ability to protect such rights. We also carry out studies on major problems faced by women in asserting their rights. Our ultimate goal is to further the cause of women's rights by improving the legal systems in related areas.
What we can do
1. Provide legal consulting, free of charge to women across the nation, answering questions posted through letter, e-mails, telephone calls and visits;
2. Undertake major complex cases involving problems typically faced by women in asserting their rights, and provide legal aid to indigent women;
3. Prepare research reports on major issues concerning women's rights, and submit suggestions and proposals to the legislative, executive and judicial branches that would further improve the legal system in areas relating to women’s rights;
4. Cooperate with experts, scholars, legal institutions and universities in discussing theories and practice in the area of legal aid services to women and protection of women's rights; and
5. Cooperate with the media in educating women on their legal rights and in heightening their consciousness to safeguard their rights. Also, enhance public concern about women's rights and legal aid services in this respective field.
What we have done
Since its establishment, the Center has replied to more than 20,000 women’s inquiries. In addition, the Center has represented women in 400 cases in issues regarding marriage, labor rights and human rights. Often highly publicized and having significant social impact, cases covered more than twenty provinces, autonomous regions and cities directly under the central government.
Based on our litigation and consulting experiences, we have carried out specific studies on safeguarding women's rights, and have submitted proposals based on such studies to the legislative bodies. Over the recent years, the Center has published many papers including: Legal Aid Cases and Guidance of Women; Questions and Answers on Marriage Problems; Questions and Answers on Labor Rights; Protection of Women's Rights in China: Theory and Practice of Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests in Contemporary China—Investigation and Study on the Enforcement of UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms Discrimination Against Women in China (available in both Chinese and English versions); Legal Aid in China: Theories and Practice and the Legal Aid Combating the Violence Directed Against Women: Theories and Practice (available in both Chinese and English versions).
In 2002, the Center created the first legal aid website for women in China (www.woman-legalaid.org.cn). The Center has made efforts to set up a communication network on legal aid through our website and newsletter. The Center has also collaborated with private lawyers for the purpose of pulling resources together, resulting in successful synergy.
On December 4, 1998, Ms. Peng Peiyun, the Vice President of the National People's Congress and the President of All China Women Association, visited the Center in support of our work. Mrs. Clinton, former First Lady of the United States, together with Ms. Albright, former Secretary of State of the United States, visited the Center in 1998. Mrs. Anna, the wife of the Secretary General of the United Nations, visited the Center in 2001. These women have all highly praised what the Center has accomplished so far in the areas of women’s rights.
Over these recent years, the Center has established extensive contact with both individuals and institutions in more than twenty countries and regions. Our work has also received extensive media coverage and attention.
