Courts told to support children in violence, sex cases

China's top court has called on courts nationwide to offer psychological, economic and educational support to children when hearing cases involving violence and sexual assault.

The requirements are in a guideline on handling juveniles cases in a new era and was issued by the Supreme People's Court on Wednesday.

The 30-article guideline demands courts at all levels increase coordination with government departments and social organizations to provide urgent and necessary aid for juvenile victims — especially those sexually assaulted or violently harmed — and their families.

While upholding justice, "we should also help juvenile victims feel the warmth of the law and social care, helping them return to their normal lives as soon as possible," said Zhou Jiahai, deputy director of the top court's research office.

As the newly amended Criminal Law, which takes effect on March 1, clarifies harsher punishments for offenders who rape and molest children, "we'll research more on the issues and publish judicial interpretations to help lower courts accurately apply the law in a timely manner," he said.

According to statistics from the top court, from 2016 to last year, courts across the country punished 24,386 people who abducted or molested children, or organized child begging gangs.

Over the same period, the courts heard more than 1.2 million civil cases relating to children, such as custody and visitation disputes, the statistics showed.