They were forced into marriage and abused. Now women facing exploitation in China have a glimmer of hope
Female activists are working in the shadows to find and support vulnerable women they fear are being failed by authorities
TL;DR
- Female activists in China are working in the shadows to support women facing forced marriage and abuse.
- These activists fear that vulnerable women are being failed by the state's response to trafficking and exploitation.
- The 'chained woman' case in 2022 brought increased attention to trafficking and inspired a new, clandestine form of feminism in China.
- While the Chinese government states tackling trafficking is a priority, activists criticize a lack of transparency in their plans and reduced availability of legal judgments.
- Activists operate anonymously due to fear of retribution from authorities, who have cracked down on civil society.
- Some activists physically investigate cases in rural areas, while others monitor efforts or lobby internationally, though this is risky.
- A significant percentage of trafficking victims identified in judicial case files between 2017-2020 had physical or mental disabilities.
- Activists believe current laws do not adequately cover cases where vulnerable women are forced into marriages.
- Many activists, like Xiaocao, are studying law to better equip themselves to advocate for women and children, as they distrust relying solely on authorities.