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.
