全國兩會召開在即，“困境兒童”問題吸引了政協委員和社會各界的關注。目前，我國有3億多未成年人，占總人口的近四分之一。近年來，我國困境兒童保護工作取得了長足進步——未成年人保護法的修訂帶動了社會各界對困境兒童問題的關注；以法院工作為主，中國少年司法制度發展有了明顯進步；以公安部打拐辦成立為標志，建立和完善了工作機制。盡管成績顯著，但專家普遍認為，目前困境兒童保護工作仍存在不少問題。調查發現，不少流浪兒童被公安部門解救、民政部門救助后，回家又被遺棄。

著名歌手韓紅在今年的政協提案中建議，增強未成年人“國家保護”意識，如果家庭功能失靈，政府應及時對困境兒童進行“國家保護”；加強困境兒童保護，要在國家層面建立強有力的兒童保護專門機構；建立起符合國情的早期社區干預機制、行政干預機制、司法干預機制；對于父母殘害孩子的惡性案件，建立可操作的刑事責任追究制度和監護資格撤銷制度。

The problems faced by homeless children and defects in the current system that is supposed to protect the vulnerable group were discussed on Wednesday at a meeting of officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The problems faced by homeless children and defects in the current system that is supposed to protect the vulnerable group were discussed on Wednesday at a meeting of officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The gathering came as some of the country's political advisers were calling for the establishment of a specialized organization at the national level to deal with child protection.

Related departments from more than 10 provinces and cities gathered in Beijing for the meeting, according to Dou Yupei, vice-minister of civil affairs, who spoke to Beijing News.

The ministry's publicity office refused to share any additional details when contacted by China Daily.

Han Hong, a popular singer who is also a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), has proposed that the State should take on more responsibility for the protection of children and especially those who face difficulties and whose parents or legal guardians have failed to protect them.

She suggested that the central government could set up a special powerful department to take care of children's affairs, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The singer, who has been active in promoting child welfare, also called for the establishment of an intervention mechanism at the community level and urged administrative and judicial authorities to deal with the social problems that affect children.

Han also said the State should consider depriving parents and legal guardians of their rights to care for children if they are found to have harmed or abused them.

She has prepared a proposal that she expects to submit during the Fourth Session of the 11th National Committee of the CPPCC. That meeting starts on Thursday.

Han's expected proposal was welcomed by Liu Huawen, an associate researcher who specializes in the rights of children at the Institute of International Law under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"It's very necessary to set up a special government organ to work for children and safeguard children's welfare," Liu told China Daily on Wednesday, stressing that children comprise a considerable portion of the country's population.

Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics show that China had 246.6 million people under the age of 14 in 2009, 18.5 percent of the population.

At present, children's affairs are handled by the All-China Women's Federation, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and other governmental departments, which creates challenges in coordinating and planning initiatives, said Ma Li, the director of a rescue center for homeless children in Xuzhou city, Jiangsu province.

Ma said most homeless children keep running away after they are sent back to their homes.

He said he conducted random checks during the Spring Festival holidays on eight children who had been sent back to their homes after running away and found that only one child remained at home.

The issue of child protection has drawn increasing attention from the public and government since an online campaign was started in late January that was aimed at helping reunite child beggars with their families.

Premier Wen Jiabao said during his online chat with netizens at the weekend that he had asked the civil affairs and public security departments to work out comprehensive steps to better help homeless children and young beggars.

(China Daily)

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）