Reporting to give young better safety

The Supreme People's Procuratorate recently released details of a case in which a hotel was held responsible after two underage girls were lured into a room in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province.

In October 2020, two males-an adult surnamed Xu and a minor surnamed Yang-invited two female minors for a meal, during which they coaxed the girls into drinking a lot of wine. They later took the two drunk girls to the hotel where Yang had sex with one of the girls, and Xu attempted to have sex with both of the girls.

In March 2021, Yang and Xu were prosecuted on suspicion of rape. Yang was sentenced to two years and nine months, and Xu was sentenced to three years and nine months.

However, an investigation showed that the hotel staff only took Xu's information and allowed the four to check into the same room. Footage from the reception desk surveillance camera showed that the two girls were obviously drunk and one was dressed in a school uniform.

Despite this, the staff didn't ask either girl for their IDs, ask what was going on, or take their guardian's contact details. Nor did they contact the police after discovering what was happening.

Police imposed administrative penalties on the hotel and asked its operator to make reparations.

The two girls later filed a civil lawsuit against the hotel and the operator was required to pay 10,000 yuan ($1,480) in emotional compensation.

In May 2020, nine central departments jointly issued trial guidelines for establishing a compulsory reporting system for cases involving the exploitation of minors. The system was later included in the amended Juvenile Protection Law, which came into force in June 2021.

Under the law, when minors check into hotels or other places of accommodation-with or without an accompanying adult-operators must note guardian contact information, establish the relationship between those checking in and other necessary details, and immediately report any suspected crime to public security organs.

In addition, government departments, resident and village committees, institutions and staff in close contact with minors must immediately report to public security, civil affairs, education or other relevant departments any cases of minors suffering from or facing danger to their physical or mental health or other dangerous situations.

The compulsory reporting system has improved their protection, and those who fail to fulfill their obligations under the system will be held responsible, the SPP said.