Law amendment can better protect young girls

People buy books about China's criminal law at a bookstore in Yichang, Hubei province on October 29, 2014. [Photo/CFP]

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

In many sex crime cases, the charge of prostitution with girls under the age of 14 was often exploited by the perpetrators to avoid being charged with the crime of rape. Even real rapists were able to avoid due punishment in this way, dealing a blow to the dignity of the law. Therefore, the abolition of the crime of prostitution with underage girls is in line with public opinion, and with the need to impose harsher punishments on sex criminals and improve the relevant laws and regulations.

Chongqing Morning Post, Aug 21

The law represents the common will of the majority. Legislation should serve the public. When it comes to the abolition of the crime of prostitution with underage girls, there should not be a compromise between the public's will and the law.

Beijing News, Aug 21

The change to the charge of the so-called prostitution with underage girls will not result in any confusion that may allow criminals to avoid the sexual assault charges they deserve. On the contrary, the abolition of this crime will set an example for correcting flawed legislation. Hopefully this time the NPC Standing Committee would show full respect to and adopt the consensus on abolishing this outdated crime to protect young girls.

News Express, Aug 22