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The Chinese government has made considerable efforts to improve child protection and child welfare, evidenced by a string of policies enacted in recent years. In late October the central government announced that 2.5 billion yuan (US$373.12 million) would be spent on infant and child protection next year.

Wang Zhengyao, dean of the One Foundation Philanthropy Research Institute at Beijing Normal University shares his concern on the present situation of child protection in China. [Pierre Chen / China.org.cn]

But the issue of child protection and child welfare cannot be addressed entirely through social assistance and poverty alleviation. And relying on adjustments to government policy may not always achieve expected results, because policy, in many cases, does not carry the force of law. Legislation can provide a much more secure and stable approach to guarding the rights of children and demonstrate a higher level of seriousness and resolution on the part of the government.

"Our experience in China has shown us new child protection challenges require a more comprehensive and system-based approach," said Ms. Di Martino.

Present Chinese laws on child protection cover all minors, i.e. all those under 18. But they mainly relate to physical protection. Children's rights, especially of those under ten years old, are still not covered by specific laws, according to Wang Zhengyao, dean of the One Foundation Philanthropy Research Institute at Beijing Normal University.

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