Law amendment can better protect young girls

THE STANDING COMMITTEE of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, is deliberating on closing a loophole in the law to protect young girls from sexual predators after an increasing number of Chinese law experts called for the charge of "prostitution with underage girls" to be eliminated. If the measure is approved, any sex with girls under 14, regardless of their consent, would be considered rape, for which the penalties are harsher. Comments:

The crime of "prostitution with underage girls" indirectly admits that the girls are allowed to drift into prostitution as long as they want to, even though they are physically and mentally immature. It also goes against the law aimed at protecting teenagers and has often failed to impose due punishment on many de facto rapists. It is high time that such a crime was abolished and such criminals received the punishments they deserve.

Beijing Youth Daily, Aug 21