Kirsten di Martio, Chief of Child Protection, in UNICEF China speaks at the forum in Beijing Normal University on Friday, October 22, 2010. [China.org.cn]

Premier Wen Jiabao approved a new policy Oct. 12 that will help strengthen the protection of orphans, the latest in a string of efforts in the past few years to provide support for the children. The central government will spend 2.5 billion yuan (US$374.8 million) next year on orphan protection, the first time the central government has appropriate funds to the issue.

The policy also stipulates that governments at all levels should ensure the basic living standard of orphans is no lower than the minimum average living standard.

The number of orphans in China has grown by almost a quarter since 2005, to 712,000.

The policy is being hailed by international children's rights groups, represented by UNICEF. Kirsten di Martino, UNICEF's chief of Child Rights in China, said the policy would "bring a great milestone and breakthrough to establish comprehensive child protection in China in the future." UNICEF also said it would be an effective example for other countries in the Asian-Pacific region to follow.

"We need to establish an effective implementation system, the system to deliver and monitor the cash transfer to the most vulnerable," di Martino said. "We need to strengthen the human resources and the financial delivery system."

Transferring funds, especially charity donations, to orphans remains a pressing issue, especially in rural areas.

"Corruption is surely always a problem, but we need to deal with a lot more difficulties, such as procedural complications in handling out the cash," said Wang Zhengyao, head of One Foundation Philanthropy Research Institute at Beijing Normal University.

One group of children tends to be more neglected than others -- migrant children, the ones who are taken to other cities by their parents who work there. These children are not technically orphans but nonetheless belong to the most vulnerable. China's household registration system prevents them from enjoying the benefits provided by their hometowns and their new city -- cities do not keep a record of the migrant population under 16 years.

"The first step to break the barrier is to register them, making their presence known," said Song Wenzhen of the National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council. Cities like Wuxi, Shijiazhuang and Zhongshan have already started pioneering this new practice, she said.

Similarly, children whose migrant worker parents left in their rural hometowns also need care and protection. Compared to migrant children, they have fewer financial difficulties and their education and healthcare are better attended to. But these children exhibit more emotional and behavioral problems from the lack of parental care.

"The best way to help them is not to label them," Song said. Labeling them as "leftover children" or "unattended children" -- what Song called a title of inferiority -- is a huge disrespect to them. Instead, the community should address often-neglected problems while making parents realize that their presence is the best way to protect them.

(china.org.cn October 25, 2010)