China will step-up crackdown on crimes against juvenile disabled
so as to protect their legitimate rights, Zhang Jun, vice president
of the Supreme People's Court, has said.
"Criminals who aid and abet underaged disabled people in
criminal activities will also be strictly punished," said
Zhang.
Zhang said China has done a lot and made a great achievement in
crackdown on such crimes and protection of legitimate rights of the
disabled.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has asked
local police authorities to work with disabled people's
associations and civil affairs bodies to prevent deaf-mute
youngster from being cheated into crimes
In recent years, there have been quite some cases involving
deaf-mute teenagers who are cheated or coerced to commit crimes,
said Cai Anji, an official with MPS.
Their education level is not high, employment is difficult,
social contact is limited, and consequently they are cheated or
forced into criminal activities, said Yang Yang, deputy chief of
China's national association of deaf people.
"This brings negative effects to the welfare course of disabled
people and tarnishes their own image," said Yang.
"We should do more to boost employment of disabled people, so
that they can live off by themselves," Yang said.
Latest survey shows that China has about 1.8 million deaf-mute
people aged 18 or younger.
(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2007)