Top court to offer interpretation on protection orders

China's top court said on Tuesday that it will offer a judicial interpretation on personal safety protection orders, with greater emphasis on curbing domestic violence.

Chinese courts have issued some 11,000 personal safety protection orders, which are similar to restraining orders in the West, He Xiaorong, vice-president of the Supreme People's Court, China's top court, said at a news conference.

"We're planning to offer a judicial interpretation to specify standards on how to prove someone needs such an order and what criminal punishments those disobeying the order should face," He said.

He said that the move shows the judiciary's determination to curb domestic violence, calling for courts across the country to further improve trial reform for domestic disputes.

He highlighted the significance of handling cases involving people's livelihood, adding that the top court will also consider offering judicial interpretations on new businesses to better serve high-quality economic development and effectively protect consumers' legitimate rights.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, courts nationwide have solved more than 36 million cases involving education, employment, healthcare and housing, according to the top court.

Over the past decade, Chinese courts also attached importance to protecting human rights and harshly punishing those who committed violent crimes, including intentional killing, robbery, terrorism and trafficking of women and children, the top court said.

Thanks to the intensified efforts, the number of those violent crime cases that were handled by courts at all levels has dropped to 49,000 last year from 75,000 in 2013, said Shen Liang, another vice-president of the top court.

"We've also provided a strong sense of security, fulfillment and happiness for residents by efficiently solving cases related to fraud, food safety and drugs," Shen said.