Judicial authorities vow harsh punishments for child abusers

Chinese prosecutors and judges endeavored to fight and punish people who harmed children with zero-tolerance last year, with various measures taken to protect women's legitimate rights, according to reports.

The annual work reports of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, China's top judicial authorities, were submitted to the ongoing second session of the 14th National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, on Friday for review.

In 2023, Chinese prosecutors accused 67,000 people of sexually assaulting, harming and abusing of children, urging individuals and departments close to minors - such as those engaged in the fields of education and healthcare - to report anyone who was suspected of harming a child or children to the police, the SPP report said.

The SPC report showed that some 61,000 people were punished for harming children, up 28.5 percent year-on-year.

Both the reports highlighted the fight against people who sexually assaulted children via the internet.

In recent years, some adults were found to have lured juveniles to undress and then talk with them via cameras installed on computers or request naked photos or videos. Then, the offenders told the victims that they would disclose the pictures or videos if they refused to go out with them. Finally, they took the victims to hotels and raped them.

The SPC report mentioned a man named Wang Xiaoshan, who was sentenced to death for raping girls in this way.

While harshly punishing those harming children, judicial authorities across the country have also given stronger protection for women.

Last year, prosecutors accused 563 people of domestic violence, and courts issued 5,695 personal safety protection orders, up 41.5 percent compared with that in 2022, the reports added.