Minhang leads with ban on sexual assault offenders
Minhang District has become the first place in China to ban former criminals convicted of sexual assault from jobs that involve contact with youths.
The district’s action is in response to the country’s move to better protect people under the age of 18 from sexual abuse.
Minhang prosecutors said on Friday that people with sexual assault records are off limits to jobs that require “close touch” with youngsters.
They are barred from taking posts in educational institutions like schools and extracurricular training centers, health and aid agencies, youth activity facilities, amusement parks, libraries, sports venues and museums, among others.
Local police, the courts, social security offices, the education authority, the civil affairs administration and the family planning commission are among institutions that have pledged to work together with prosecutors.
According to prosecutors, the “job off-limit” mechanism is designed to step up scrutiny when recruiting the likes of teachers and doctors. The mechanism will be operated under the rule that was drafted last month.
It defines people who have committed sexual assault — with the list including rapists, child molesters, and people who organize, force, induce, introduce and allow prostitution.
Offenders in Minhang, who have such criminal records covering the past five years, will be placed on a blacklist only open to authorities and employers.
Minhang has a history of being in the forefront of movements to protect the young from sexual abuse.
Last November 30, a middle school teacher surnamed Qian who molested a girl student was banned from working for educational institutions for three years in addition to a two-and-half-year jail term. That was the first conviction of its kind in Shanghai. In late July 2016 when the student, whose identity wasn’t disclosed, went to Qian’s home for a private lesson, he coached her in his bedroom until 9:30pm. When she was about to leave, he rushed to hug and kiss her, prosecutors said.
The girl, a junior middle school student, reported his actions. Police arrested Qian, who denied the accusation, saying he was trapped by the girl.
He was convicted and stripped of his teacher’s license. Also, he was banned from being a teacher or involved with youngsters for three years after finishing his jail sentence.