China will step-up crackdown on crimes against juvenile disabled so as to protect their legitimate rights, Zhang Jun, vice president of the Supreme People's Court, has said.

"Criminals who aid and abet underaged disabled people in criminal activities will also be strictly punished," said Zhang.

Zhang said China has done a lot and made a great achievement in crackdown on such crimes and protection of legitimate rights of the disabled.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has asked local police authorities to work with disabled people's associations and civil affairs bodies to prevent deaf-mute youngster from being cheated into crimes

In recent years, there have been quite some cases involving deaf-mute teenagers who are cheated or coerced to commit crimes, said Cai Anji, an official with MPS.

Their education level is not high, employment is difficult, social contact is limited, and consequently they are cheated or forced into criminal activities, said Yang Yang, deputy chief of China's national association of deaf people.

"This brings negative effects to the welfare course of disabled people and tarnishes their own image," said Yang.

"We should do more to boost employment of disabled people, so that they can live off by themselves," Yang said.

Latest survey shows that China has about 1.8 million deaf-mute people aged 18 or younger.

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2007)