This law was replaced in 2020 by the Civil Code, Book Five (Marriage and Family) (中华人民共和国民法典(第五编 婚姻家庭编) (available here). The Marriage Law of the People’s Republic of China was adopted by the National People’s Congress on September 10, 1980 and amended on April 28, 2001. Article 2 provides that the marriage system is “based on the free choice of partners, on monogamy and on equality between man and woman.” Article 3 prohibits interference by a third party, mercenary marriage and exaction of money or gifts in connection with marriage. Article 6 provides the minimal marriage age is twenty-two for men and twenty for women. Article 13 provides that husband and wife shall have equal status in the family. Article 34 provides that “a husband may not apply for a divorce when his wife is pregnant, or within one year after the birth of the child, or within six months after the termination of her gestation.” Article 43 provides that neighborhood committee, villagers committee or the unit[1] to which the family belongs have an obligation to deter domestic violence. English version available here.
离婚、家庭暴力、包办婚姻与早婚、性别歧视
本法于1980年9月10日第五届全国人民代表大会通过，于2001年4月28日修正。第二条规定中国实行婚姻自由、一夫一妻、男女平等的婚姻制度。第六条禁止包办、买卖婚姻和其他干涉婚姻自由的行为，禁止借婚姻索取财物。第六条规定结婚年龄，男不得早于二十二周岁，女不得早于二十周岁。第十三条规定夫妻在家庭中地位平等。第三十四条规定女方在怀孕期间、分娩后一年内或中止妊娠后六个月内，男方不得提出离婚。第四十三条规定居民委员会、村民委员会以及所在单位应当予以劝阻、调解家庭暴力。
[1] “Unit” is a term of art with strong communist connotations, which refers to the company/organization/group to which a person belongs.
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