Rural children vulnerable to accidents, crime: report

About 80 percent of unnatural deaths among minors in China occur in rural areas, according to a report submitted to China's top legislature on Monday.

The report issued at the bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) calls for an improved welfare system for under the age of 18 and advises the government to set up a special child protection agency.

Prosecutors in central China's Henan Province told researchers for the report that more than 60 percent of attacks on juveniles there are against "left-behind" children -- kids left unattended by rural parents who have left their homes for work in big cities -- as well as vagrant children in cities.

About 55,000 minors die in accidents each year, with drowning and traffic accident the biggest causes, according to the report, which also noted the prevalence of criminal offenses targeting children, such as rape, molestation, trafficking, abuse and abandonment, as well as organizing child beggars.

Meanwhile, juvenile drug use is on the rise. The number of drug-addicted minors in 2013 surged 26 percent from the previous year, said the report.

From the start of 2011 to the end of 2013, Chinese courts concluded the trials of 12,281 cases of crime against minors and 14,349 people were convicted and punished.

A special campaign to crack down on child trafficking also rescued 52,000 children last year, according to the report

It was based on analysis of the findings teams sent out by the NPC Standing Committee to inspect enforcement of China's minor protection laws.

The report also urged more efforts by administrative and judicial organs, parents and communities to protect children.