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There has been an overall increase in the number of cases involving crimes against minors handled by procuratorial organs nationwide in 2023, with a total of 53,286 individuals arrested, representing an increase of 35.3 percent year-on-year, according to a white paper released by China's highest procuratorial organ on Friday.

In 2023, 67,103 individuals were prosecuted, an increase of 14.9 percent year-on-year. Among these, 16,972 were juvenile suspects who committed crimes against minors, indicating a year-on-year increase of 24.9 percent, and accounting for 25.3 percent of crimes against minors, according to the white paper by the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP).

The most common charges of crimes against minors included rape, with 24,332 cases, followed by molestation of children, robbery, disorderly conduct, and forced indecency and insult. These five categories accounted for 68.3 percent of all prosecutions for crimes against minors.

The white paper comes ahead of this year's International Children's Day, on the occasion of which both the Supreme People's Court and the Ministry of Education also issued a series of reports and requirements focusing on the protection of minors and the prevention of juvenile delinquency.

Legal professionals believe that following a number of distressing juvenile crime cases that sparked widespread social concern , these moves signal an important step toward improving the country's judicial, procuratorial and governance system, which will help strengthen protection for minors and effectively address social concerns.

China's Supreme People's Court on Thursday issued for the first time a set of guiding cases on judicial protection for minors. On the same day, the SPC also released opinions over protection for minors and crime prevention, stating that there will be zero tolerance for crimes against minors.

The consecutive releases by the SPC and the SPP demonstrate China's determination to enhance protection for minors and to tackle the stubborn problem of campus bullying, Meng Bo, a lawyer at Beijing Jingsh Law Firm, told the Global Times on Friday.

The moves can effectively deter illegal and criminal acts related to campus bullying, reduce the occurrence of crimes against minors, and improve the legal and social effects of handling cases, creating a safe, healthy, and civilized environment for minors to grow up in, Meng said.

Meng pointed out that the guiding cases released by the SPC on Thursday serve as examples for legal education, helping the public to better understand and comply with the law.

In addition, the prosecution authorities' promotion of mandatory reporting systems, enhanced supervision, standardized case handling, and improved care for minor victims are concrete steps in the strict crackdown on crimes against minors. These measures can positively reduce the occurrence of such cases at the source.

"Law without enforcement is insufficient," Meng said. "The realization of the ideal effects of the law depends on the judiciary. By fully exercising criminal trial functions, strengthening judicial protection for underage victims, and maintaining a zero-tolerance attitude toward crimes that seriously harm minors, strict and severe punishment can effectively prevent cases involving harm to minors, such as campus bullying."

The Ministry of Education on Friday issued a notice outlining specific requirements for preventing and managing campus violence and student bullying in primary and secondary schools, including establishing a student bullying management committee to identify bullying behaviors and handle them according to laws and regulations.

Also in Friday's white paper, the SPP highlighted a surge in the handling of juvenile crime cases. "In 2023, there was a significant rise in the total approval of arrests of juvenile suspects, with the number reaching 26,855, marking a 73.7 percent increase compared to the previous year. The prosecution of juvenile suspects rose to 38,954, representing a 40.7 percent increase," according to the white paper.

The handling of crimes committed by younger minors also showed an upward trend. The SPP said procuratorial organs nationwide have reviewed cases committed by suspects aged 14 to 16 totaling 10,063 individuals, which was over 15 percent more than the previous year.

The most common charges of juvenile crime are theft, rape, gang fighting, robbery, fraud and provoking trouble, the SPP said.

According to the law, procuratorial organs will consider adopting conditional non-prosecution for juvenile crime suspects who admit their guilt and show remorse for offenses that could result in a sentence of less than one year.

Meanwhile, procuratorial organs will place greater importance on supervision and education of offenders during their probation period. In 2023, some 31,121 juveniles received such treatment, with a conditional non-prosecution rate of 37.4 percent.

Global Times