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Microblogs combat child-trafficking

0 CommentsPrint E-mail CNTV, February 12, 2011
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A new Internet campaign against child-trafficking is making the hunt for kidnap victims a little bit easier. Launched three weeks ago, the microblogging movement aims at recognizing and rescuing abducted children.

 

Having your child kidnapped is one of the worst fears for any parent.And in parts of China, the problem of child-trafficking is a very real concern.

And now the fight has intensified.

Prof. Wang Dawei of Chinese People's Public Security Uni.,said, "Child abduction is pretty serious in some areas of our country. It's a social problem we should pay much attention to."

In response to the issue, a professor from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences set up an Internet campaign, which is getting quick results. So far six abducted children have been identified and saved.

It works by microbloggers taking photos of young beggars. The netizens then upload the photos onto a website. So far, the microblog has attracted nearly 90-thousand followers. To date, over 17 hundred images of vulnerable children have been uploaded.

Seven-year-old Peng Wenle is one such case. He was kidnapped three years ago outside his father's supermarket in the city of Shenzhen, in southern China. After many false leads, the boy's dad turned to the professor's microblog for help. After more than 6,000 postings, father and son have been reunited.

The Ministry of Public Security has responded positively to the online campaign and many local law enforcement agencies are taking notice as well.

Prof. Wang Dawei said, "If you see beggars holding a child who is either disabled or in a coma, we urge you to hide and call the police ASAP, because a large proportion of the kids have been abducted and are being drugged or abused."

Peng's family reunion is just one story, but it's a convincing start.

The campaign's founder hopes the movement will continue in the future. And more importantly, that relevant authorities will continue to take the lead by using more persistent and legitimate means, that will hopefully shed light on the need for a strengthening of laws to fight child-abduction and trafficking.

 

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