Domestic violence cases decreased by 6.87 percent in 2018 in the city of Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang Province, the first drop in three years since the implementation of China's Anti-Domestic Violence Law, according to statistics from the domestic violence information platform under the Hangzhou Women's Federation, the Qianjiang Evening News reported on Thursday. 

It is notable that male-reported domestic abuse cases increased in the past three years. In 2018, there were 22 cases in Hangzhou reported by men. 

Although it accounts for a small proportion compared with the total number of cases, men are often reluctant to report domestic violence due to traditional mindsets. Many are concerned society does not pay attention to and ridicules men who suffer from domestic violence. 

It requires lots of courage for male victims to ask for help. Men often tell their stories using obscure descriptions because of their sense of esteem and may suffer from the double pressure of violence and inner shame at the same time, Chen Shufang, director of the Hangzhou Hehuan Psychological Counseling Service Center, told Qianjiang Evening News.

In addition, domestic violence cases involving minors increased to 214 last year. Thanks to stronger legal awareness among minors in Hangzhou, about 10 percent of the cases were reported by the minors themselves.

Global Times