Civil Code strengthens adoption law

Bullying, neglect

Orphaned teenagers or those who lack effective guardianship have long been vulnerable to bullying at school, along with neglect and abuse.

Their plight has inspired novelists and filmmakers. Last year, the blockbuster movie Better Days highlighted school violence and other challenges facing many parentless teenagers.

With that in mind, Feng Xianying, a lawyer in Beijing who studies cases related to child welfare, described the changes in the Civil Code as a "win-win solution".

"More orphans may enjoy the warmth of families, while parents could have their second child through adoption," she said.

Older teenagers who have been shut out of State-run programs are usually adopted privately. It is a common practice in rural areas, but it is hard to monitor and raises human-trafficking concerns, she added.