全國(guó)兩會(huì)召開(kāi)在即，“困境兒童”問(wèn)題吸引了政協(xié)委員和社會(huì)各界的關(guān)注。目前，我國(guó)有3億多未成年人，占總?cè)丝诘慕姆种弧＝陙?lái)，我國(guó)困境兒童保護(hù)工作取得了長(zhǎng)足進(jìn)步——未成年人保護(hù)法的修訂帶動(dòng)了社會(huì)各界對(duì)困境兒童問(wèn)題的關(guān)注；以法院工作為主，中國(guó)少年司法制度發(fā)展有了明顯進(jìn)步；以公安部打拐辦成立為標(biāo)志，建立和完善了工作機(jī)制。盡管成績(jī)顯著，但專(zhuān)家普遍認(rèn)為，目前困境兒童保護(hù)工作仍存在不少問(wèn)題。調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn)，不少流浪兒童被公安部門(mén)解救、民政部門(mén)救助后，回家又被遺棄。

著名歌手韓紅在今年的政協(xié)提案中建議，增強(qiáng)未成年人“國(guó)家保護(hù)”意識(shí)，如果家庭功能失靈，政府應(yīng)及時(shí)對(duì)困境兒童進(jìn)行“國(guó)家保護(hù)”；加強(qiáng)困境兒童保護(hù)，要在國(guó)家層面建立強(qiáng)有力的兒童保護(hù)專(zhuān)門(mén)機(jī)構(gòu)；建立起符合國(guó)情的早期社區(qū)干預(yù)機(jī)制、行政干預(yù)機(jī)制、司法干預(yù)機(jī)制；對(duì)于父母殘害孩子的惡性案件，建立可操作的刑事責(zé)任追究制度和監(jiān)護(hù)資格撤銷(xiāo)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(guó)日?qǐng)?bào)網(wǎng)英語(yǔ)點(diǎn)津 Helen 編輯）