Lawmakers, political advisers look to step up child protection

By Zhang Jiaqi
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, March 4, 2021
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Zhang Baoyan, a deputy to the National People's Congress and founder of baobeihuijia.com, shares her proposals regarding child protection on March 2, 2021. [Photo courtesy of Girls Protection]

A number of NPC deputies at the seminar also echoed Liu's proposals on compulsory preventive education, and brought along further ideas. NPC Deputy Zhang Baoyan, who founded an organization helping families to find their missing children, proposed organizing experts in law, education, and public welfare to compile textbooks based on previous cases.

Zhu Lieyu, an NPC deputy and a lawyer from Guangdong province, proposed that schools set up reporting hotlines and designate psychological counsellors to offer students timely help against maltreatment.

In last year's NPC session in May, Zhu called for lifting the minimum age of sexual consent from 14 years old. This occurred a month after allegations that a lawyer had repeatedly sexually abused a teenager in his care over the course of three years shortly after she turned 14.

His suggestions were later taken into consideration when the legislative body amended the Criminal Law. According to the Amendment XI which took effect on March 1, where a person with special duties towards a female minor between the age of 14 and 16, such as guardianship, adoption, care, education, or medical treatment, has sexual relations with the female minor, the person is to be sentenced to up to three years' imprisonment.

Data from the survey report showed that among 332 cases covered by media reports in 2020, 74.04% of the sexual assaults were committed by the victims' acquaintances, and similarly high ratios were reported in previous years, which were also consistent with data released by courts and procuratorates. In addition, over 60% of the 2020 media-covered cases took place in schools and training institutions, which included 25.25% in schools and after-school training institutions, 21.93% in the perpetrators' residences, and 13.95% in outdoor spaces.

Now, further law-based child protection moves are on track in the country. China's top court on March 2 opened an office dedicated to juvenile justice in a renewed effort to build up expertise in the area.

The office will roll out judicial interpretations, provide the public with information about typical cases, and guide nationwide trials involving juveniles, according to the Supreme People's Court.

Moreover, the revised Law on the Protection of Minors was adopted last October, and is scheduled to take effect on June 1, the upcoming International Children's Day.

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