Courts have duty to curb violence against children

A 2-YEAR-OLD GIRL in Xining, Northwest China's Qinghai province, died after being repeatedly beaten by her parents over 20 days. Beijing News comments:

The sentences handed down to the parents by the local court in Xining has aroused fierce discussion as the girl's mother was sentenced to five years in prison, while the father was found guilty but received no punishment.

The local court said it made the ruling according to Clause 260 of the Criminal Law, which states that those who maltreat a family member to such an extent it results in the victim's death should be sentenced to imprisonment for two to seven years.