Procuratorate pledges greater anti-abuse efforts

National prosecuting departments will redouble efforts to combat crimes against minors in schools or kindergartens, according to a statement issued by the Supreme People's Procuratorate and related bodies.

"Schools are important places where children should receive an education and grow up in safety, and we will resolutely fight crime that targets children or school safety," said Shi Weizhong, deputy director of a special office at the procuratorate established to deal with cases involving minors.

Last year, 181 people were charged with crimes against children, such as physical and sexual abuse, at kindergartens across the country.

Meanwhile, 3,923 people were charged with infringing the rights of minors at primary and middle schools by maltreating them, committing sexual abuse or physical injury, according to statistics provided by the procuratorate.

During sentencing, prosecutors asked that 102 people convicted of such crimes be excluded from professions that require contact with minors.

In May, a preschool teacher in Beijing was charged with abusing children by stabbing them with needles to "discipline" them, the procuratorate said.

The case came to light in November, when parents contacted police to report that the children had needle marks on their bodies, and also alleged that the minors had been given unidentified "white pills" to keep them quiet.

The woman was detained by police in December on suspicion of child abuse.

To tackle the problem, the procuratorate and related bodies, including the public security and education departments, issued the statement, which also stipulates severe punishments for those convicted of infringing the rights of juveniles.

Shi said national prosecuting departments will work closely with the relevant authorities to conduct thorough investigations into conditions at schools and kindergartens in a bid to improve safety management.

More 'special offices' to be opened

The Supreme People's Procuratorate has announced that the number of special offices that investigate the sexual abuse of minors will be increased nationwide.

"Under these measures, the judicial authorities will offer victims a welcoming and relaxing environment in which we will be able to fully establish the details of their case, meaning they will not have to undergo repeat questioning," said Zheng Xinjian, director of the procurator's office that handles cases involving minors.

Zheng said more than 310 of the offices－which are decorated like kindergartens to help victims relax and reduce anxiety levels－have already been established in a number of provinces and regions.

Wang Hai, a senior official at the procuratorate's headquarters, said the investigating officers make audiovisual recordings while gently guiding children to recall details of the abuse they endured.

"The recorded evidence is offered to prosecutors and courts during the investigation and trial to save the children from repeat questioning and spare them further distress," he said.

In a typical case, one 6-year-old victim was so distressed and anxious that she refused to speak to anyone.

In response, the prosecutors brought her to a special investigation room in a hospital that contained a range of toys and was decorated with drawings of well-known cartoon figures.

During the investigation, the police and prosecutors established a good relationship with the child by playing music to her, telling her funny stories and playing games with her. After a while, the girl had become confident enough to allow the officers to film her as she discussed how she had been abused.

"When dealing with cases such as this, the priority is always to keep the damage to the victim to a minimum," Zheng said.