China supreme court orders tougher sentencing for child abuse

Mainland courts have been ordered to mete out harsher sentences to child abusers, with the Supreme People's Court publicising three cases yesterday as precedents.

They include the case of a teacher who was executed for his multiple rapes of seven primary- school girls.

The top court's order comes amid growing public anger about the widespread sexual abuse of children; at least seven such cases were reported in the past 20 days.

On the internet, mainlanders launched two campaigns online: they criticised the All China Women's Federation over its failure to protect girls, and warned principals and teachers with deviant tendencies to stay away from their students.

Xue Shulan, an associate supreme court judge, told China National Radio that teachers who sexually violated girls should be severely punished.

"All levels of people's courts should step up punishment over crimes against minors, handing out death penalties to criminals who severely harm the rights of the under-aged," Xue said. "There should be absolutely no mercy."