Top procuratorate urges strong action on crime against children

The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) of China released a circular Thursday, telling all procuratorates to deal severely with crimes against kindergarten children, protect their rights and prevent such crimes from happening.

When dealing with crimes such as rape, indecent assault or intentional homicide against children, procuratorates must approve arrests and initiate public prosecution as soon as possible, according to the circular.

Procuratorates should independently exercise their procuratorial power to guarantee the quality of case-handling. They must make decisions based on the facts and law while listening to the people's voice, the circular said.

Care and help for child victims should be improved, the circular continued. For instance, personal information of the children and their guardians should not be released, and law enforcers should not go to children's homes to collect evidence in police cars or uniform, according to the SPP.

Procuratorates can also ask for support from the likes of civil administrations and medical organizations, as well as professional help from judicial social workers and psychological consultants, to help the child victims recover.

Moreover, procuratorates must base their work on prevention and set up a system to prevent harm to kindergarten children, the circular said.

They should summarize the causes and characteristics of cases according to their experience and advise kindergartens on shortcomings in their management, the SPP added.

The circular was issued following recent accusations of abuse at kindergartens around the country.