National Laws
Legislation of INTERPOL member states on sexual offences against children |
China - Chine - China
Beijing
I. Ages for legal purposes
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Age of simple majority
According to the 'Law for Protection of Minors in China', citizens under
eighteen (18) are minors and enjoy special protection by law. A child is a
person aged between six (6) and fourteen (14).
Age of consent for sexual activity
No information has been received in connection with this offence.
Age of consent for marriage
China’s Marriage Law sets the ages at twenty-two (22) for male persons and
at twenty (20) for female persons.
The Criminal Law of China promulgated on 14th
March and enacted on 1st of October, 1997, ruled
I. Rape
Forcible coitus with women or by other means against
their will.
Punishment: 3 to 10 years’ imprisonment
Carnal knowledge with girls aged under fourteen (14)
years is considered rape and deserves a heavier penalty.
II. Rapists will be punished with imprisonment from 10 years to life imprisonment,
until death penalty under following circumstances
a) Raping women or minors viciously;
b) Raping more women and minors;
c) Raping women in public;
d) Raping in rotation by more than 2 offenders;
e) Causing death or serious consequences.
III.Other forms of child sex abuse
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‘Indecent assault against the will of women or by force’
Punishment: imprisonment for up to 5 years or forced labour.
If the offender assaults or insults women in public,
he will be punished with imprisonment for over 5 years.
‘Fingering or sodomy against minors under fourteen (14)’
Punishment: imprisonment for up to 5 years or forced labour.
If the offence is committed in public, the punishment
will be imprisonment for at least 5 years.
‘Minor’ includes boys and girls aged under fourteen
(14).
‘Promiscuity’
Punishment imprisonment for up to 5 years or forced labour.
Those who instigate minors to promiscuity will be punished
by a heavier penalty.
‘Organising, compelling, inducing or harbouring girls under fourteen (14)
to prostitution’
Punishment: 5 to 10 years‘ imprisonment with fine or confiscation of property.
‘Serious’ offenders will be punished by life imprisonment
or death penalty with confiscation of property.
‘Inducing girls aged under fourteen (14) to prostitution’
Punishment: imprisonment for up to 5 years and fine.
‘Whoring girls aged under twenty-four (24)’
Punishment: imprisonment for 5 years and fine.
‘Production, sale and spreading of pornography’
Those who commit such crimes for profit, are punishable by 3 years’ imprisonment,
forced labour or surveillance with fine.
‘Serious’ offenders are subject to three to 10 years’ imprisonment with
fine.
‘Gravest’ offenders are subject to 10 years to life imprisonment with
fine or confiscation of property.
‘Propagation of pornography’
Those spreading pornographic literature, film, video or images are punishable
by 2 years’ imprisonment, detention or surveillance.
Those who spread pornography to minors aged under eighteen (18) are punishable
by a heavier penalty.
