Anger in China after domestic abuse goes live
Lhamo, a Tibetan farmer in southwestern China, posted videos of herself cooking, singing and picking herbs on social media. Her followers were watching her livestream from her kitchen one evening when a man stormed in and she screamed. Then the screen went dark.
Ms. Lhamo died two weeks later. Her ex-husband is now under investigation, accused of dousing her with gasoline and setting her on fire.
The case, one of several involving domestic violence that have gained attention this year, reflects the shortcomings of China’s legal system in protecting women — even when they repeatedly seek help, as Ms. Lhamo did. Public outrage has helped some get justice.
A new movement: One day after Ms. Lhamo’s death, Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, told a U.N. conference on women that the “protection of women’s rights and interests must become a national commitment.” The Chinese internet seized on the speech. People were calling for stronger enforcement of a domestic violence law using the hashtag #LhamoAct. Other hashtags such as #StopNotActing condemned the failure of the police to prevent Ms. Lhamo’s death.
The New York Times
