SPP promises protection for juvenile victims

China's Supreme People' Procuratorate (SPP) has unveiled new measures to protect the rights of the juvenile victims.

Procuratorates will strengthen investigation and punishment for the infringement of juvenile rights, and speed up arrest approval and prosecuting procedures targeting the offenders, SPP representative Xiao Wei said on Wednesday at a press conference.

Prosecutors were asked to record and videotape the questioning of juvenile victims and reinforce monitoring of the police and courts over their handling of juvenile cases, Xiao said.

In practice, cases related to juveniles have not always received enough attention, according to Tong Lihua, head of a Beijing legal aid and study center for adolescents. The police sometimes fail to file an investigation in juvenile cases such as rape in a timely manner, while the prosecuting authorities may delay the prosecution and the courts give light sentences to suspects who should be seriously punished, said Tong.

The SPP also asked authorities to help victims recover from both physical and mental injuries and get back to normal life.

For adolescents who commit crimes, prosecuting authorities should also guarantee their rights and make best efforts to "educate and save" them, according to the SPP. Endit