The Yunnan Provincial Liaison Center on Legal Aid for Women and Children has opened to protect the legitimate rights and interests of women and children.
The center will provide free or cheap legal services for any permanent or temporary women residents who need legal assistance but cannot afford it, said Wang Xueling, director of the center.
The range of legal services mainly covers application for allowances for supporting aged parents, alimony, pensions, welfare payments, minimum cost of living and compensation for industrial accidents.
A hotline has been opened to provide quick and convenient legal services for those who need help. Personnel who have engaged in women's affairs for a long time and are familiar with China's laws and regulations will serve on the hotline to solve concrete problems raised by women.
Yunnan is a multi-ethnic area. Women are still considered socially weak and vulnerable. Some women in Yunnan are still unable to read and write and are ignorant about how to protect themselves.
Wang said her center will open more legal consultancy branches in various parts of Yunnan to form a provincial network for women's protection.
(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2002)
