"Bridge of Hearts" Mediation Team Resolves Unique Divorce Dispute in Shandan County, Gansu Province

Strategic Insights -

In a groundbreaking court-mediated divorce case, the Shandan County, Gansu Province of China's "Bridge of Hearts" mediation team successfully resolved a unique divorce case involving a couple with intellectual disabilities. The couple, Che and Ma, who both suffer from a second-degree intellectual disability, had been married for 16 years and had a son with congenital intellectual disabilities. The burden of care had become increasingly challenging as the child grew older, leading to conflicts between the woman and her in-laws. After multiple failed attempts to dissolve the marriage, the plaintiff, Che, filed another lawsuit, which led to the formation of the "Bridge of Hearts" mediation team.

Key Takeaways:

  • The "Bridge of Hearts" mediation team was formed to resolve the unique divorce case, consisting of officers from the local police station, village committee officials, and family mediator Liang Xiufang.
  • The team used the court's shared e-station to facilitate virtual conversations with experts from the County Disabled Persons' Federation's rehabilitation center, which provided a solution for the child's ongoing living expenses.
  • The mediation team concluded that the child's current treatment at the rehab center, which provides a subsidy for minors without parental care, could cover their living needs until the age of 18.
  • After turning 18, the child can apply for special hardship support, which could ensure some social assistance.
  • The parents on both sides reached a consensus: the marriage would be dissolved, the child would be placed in the husband's custody, and the relevant subsidies would be kept and managed by him.
  • The unique family mediation not only resolved the marital difficulties of a disabled couple but also provided hope for a disabled child's future with the warmth of justice.

Statistics:

  • 16 years: the duration of Che and Ma's marriage
  • 6 years ago: Che returned to her parents' home, where she has lived ever since
  • 2: the parties involved in the unique divorce case
  • 1: the e-station used for virtual conversations with experts
  • 18: the age at which the child can apply for special hardship support
  • 100%: the village committee director's assurance that the child met the policy requirements for special hardship support

Sources:

  • https://www.shandan.gov.cn/xydt/bmdt/202508/t20250825_1442851.html (Original story)