In China, Victims of Pedophiles Are Called ‘Underage Prostitutes’

Despite rising child sexual abuse cases in China, the law still lets defendants off lightly.
In China, Victims of Pedophiles Are Called ‘Underage Prostitutes’
Nine-year-old Ding Shaonan has supper at Wang Jiayu Orphanage of Sanshilipu Village in Yingshang County of Anhui Province. Photo by China Photos/Getty Images
Updated:

Cases of child sexual abuse are on the rise in China—and a questionable legislation could be the reason for it. The law allows for sexual abuse of minors not to be called rape, but instead “engaging in sexual activity with an underage prostitute.”

A recent study by the Hubei-based Civil Rights & Livelihood Watch found 425 reported cases of child sexual abuse in China between April 2014 and April 2015.

Among the reported cases, 13 of them involved boys. School molestation and sexual abuse cases by principals and school directors accounted for 86 cases, and the victims very often contracted sexually transmitted diseases and suffered post-traumatic stress disorder. Of the 67 victims of neighbor or relative abuse, one was a 6-month old baby girl and 22 of them involved adolescents.

According to the report, the sexual abuse cases occurred due to absent parents or guardians, inability of victims to protect themselves owing to a lack of proper sexual education, and the general lack of a national sexual education programme.

The Civil Rights & Livelihood Watch numbers represents a sharp rise from the 192 cases between May 2013 and May 2014 reported last year by state fundraising group China Social Assistance Foundation.

Warped Legislation

The actual number of sexual abuse cases is likely to be much higher as there are numerous instances of unreported crimes owing to corruption in the courts.

The 13-year-old daughter of Ren Yabo, a staff member at the petitions office of the Central Organization Department in Beijing, was repeatedly raped by five gangs in 2003, according to New York-based broadcaster New Tang Dynasty Television. Ren and his daughter never found justice—local triads bribed the prosecution organs and were let off, while Ren was detained and beaten multiple times when seeking justice for his daughter.

Late last year, Hong Kong media reported that a 4-year-old girl from Gansu Province was raped by a temporary worker at her parents home. When the girl’s parents tried to press charges, they were, just like Ren Yabo, detained and beaten multiple times.

And when cases of child sexual abuse do make the courts, the victims aren’t well protected by the law.

Heinous crime which violates ethics and morality can often escape justice… in our country.
Chen Jiangang, Beijing lawyer
Jenny Li
Jenny Li
Author
Jenny Li has contributed to The Epoch Times since 2010. She has reported on Chinese politics, economics, human rights issues, and U.S.-China relations. She has extensively interviewed Chinese scholars, economists, lawyers, and rights activists in China and overseas.
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