China officially ends its 'one-child' policy

China has officially consigned its one-child policy to history.
New legislation, enacted on Sunday, now allows all married couples to have a second child as from January 1st. Limits remain on additional children, however.
The one-child policy was adopted in the late 1970s to combat overpopulation, but ultimately led to a massive gender imbalance in the population and to a shrinking labour force burdened with supporting a growing number of elderly people.
The country also recently passed its first law against domestic violence. Previously, violence in the family had been largely ignored, due to it being thought of  as bringing shame on the family in traditional Chinese culture.
The new law also covers cohabitation, to include those who are not related but live together.
A senior lawmaker said the new law does not protect gay couples, however. While homosexuality is not illegal in China, there are no legal safeguards for same-sex couples. China is unlikely to legalise same-sex marriage in the near future.