China proposes first-ever sex offender registry in bid to stem campus assaults, but absence of penalties criticised
- The proposed registry is similar to the US national sex offender registration system which imposes legal obligations on convicted sex offenders
- If adopted into law the registry would represent the biggest change to the Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests in 17 years
Plans in China to create an unprecedented nationwide sex offender registry for schools and universities are currently under consideration.
The proposed registry is similar to the US national sex offender registration system which imposes legal obligations on convicted sex offenders to register with local police and prevents them from working in positions with young people and minors in jobs such as teaching, tutoring and volunteering.
The proposal would amend China’s Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests, under a plan to build a national mechanism for halting sexual misconduct on campuses. The proposal came after the first deliberation of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) late last year. On April 18 the NPC held an additional meeting to examine the proposal, currently under public consultation till May 19.
Some have praised the move as a progressive step in protecting women from sexual assault in education institutions, but others have criticised the proposal, which only sets out to identify known offenders and prevent their future employment in education, without suggesting penalties.
If adopted into law it would be only the second amendment to the law since it was enacted in 1992. Previously in 2005 a revision was made that prohibited sexual harassment against women and encouraged victims to lodge formal complaints which was the first-ever law in China dealing with the sexual harassment of women.
