Child buyers may face punishment
Print Edition
CHINA’S top legislature is considering punishments for buyers of abducted children.
A draft amendment to the Criminal Law being considered by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress advocates “light punishment” for buyers who don’t harm abducted children or hinder their rescue.
Currently, most buyers treat abducted children as their own, and thus won’t be punished, Chen Shiqu, director of the Ministry of Public Security’s anti-trafficking office, told the Peoples’ Daily website recently.
Thus, they think it is fine to buy children, and this wasn’t helping curb child trafficking.
In some cases children are very well treated, but there is no doubt they are still victims, he said.
Child trafficking has been rampant in rural China, especially in poverty-stricken southwestern regions, for many years. Some pregnant women have been known to sell their own children.
The traditional preference of boys over girls, especially in the countryside, has also fueled the trade.
Some rural residents who don’t have a boy would like to buy one, Chen said, and if there is demand, there will be supply.
Nearly 13,000 people involved in trafficking were punished between 2010 to 2014 with over half sentenced to from at least five years in prison to the death penalty, according to the Supreme People’s Court.
Under the current law, child traffickers can be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison. If more than three victims are involved or if there are casualties the punishments can rise to life in prison or death.
Legislators are also considering a draft amendment which adds more items to the list of activities defined as terrorism.
The draft was submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for further deliberation during its bimonthly session, which opened yesterday and runs to July 1.
According to the draft, those financing training for terrorists will face more than five years in prison, in addition to monetary punishment and confiscation of property.
Under the current law, such punishments apply only to those funding terrorist organizations and individuals carrying out acts of terror.
Those recruiting and transporting personnel for terrorist organizations, terrorist activities and training programs will also face more than five years in prison in serious cases, according to the draft amendment.
This will also apply to those who prepare devices or material for terrorists and who organize training or take part in training programs, those who contact overseas terrorist organizations or personnel and those who plan acts of terror.
The draft amendment also clarifies punishment for those who cross borders illegally.
The punishment would be up to one year in prison for most cases, but would be up to three years for those who take part in terrorist groups, receive terrorist training or carry out acts of terrorism, in addition to monetary punishment.
The draft amendment was first read to a bimonthly session in October.
Under the current law, those organizing and leading terrorist groups face life imprisonment.
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