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Nation values protection of minors
The criminal liability of minors is viewed as a separate issue within the framework of the Chinese legal system, which is in line with international legal concepts, said world experts attending the ongoing 17th International Congress of Penal Law. "In terms of judicial authority and the death penalty, China has granted special protection to minors," said Professor Gao Mingxuan, vice-president of the International Association of Criminal Law. Gao said the age of criminal majority in China is set at 18, while the minimum age for criminal liability is 14, in line with international practices. "Minor offenders under 14 are only subjected to educational measures in China." For minors who break the law, criminal liability is decided by youth courts, specialized judicial authorities with a separate jurisdiction from adult courts, said Gao. China set up the first youth court in 1984 in the eastern Shanghai Municipality. The past 20 years have seen thousands of courts established across the country and some provinces are considering setting up specialized courthouses for young people. "The practice in other countries also brings some new direction for Chinese penal law scholars to work on," said Gao. Considering that adolescence can be prolonged into young adulthood, some countries extend the educational measures or alternative sanctions that focus on the rehabilitation of youths to the age of 25, Gao said. "We have not thought much about that, but it is surely a direction," he said. Dr Severo Matino from Argentina was glad to learn that the death penalty does not apply to minors in China. "I know China has the death penalty. But it is good that they do not impose it on minors. " |
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