Child Sexual Abuse Cases Rising in Shenzhen Schools

By Jonathan Zhong, December 6, 2018

Did you know that, on average, two female minors have fallen victim to child molestation each month in Shenzhen schools this year?

The Shenzhen People’s Procurator revealed some alarming statistics on November 23, which show that the number of child sexual abuse cases at educational institutions, including schools, kindergartens and off-campus training schools, has reached 14 from January to October of this year.

All 14 perpetrators in those cases are said to be males, among whom eight are teachers from off-campus training schools. The victims, 21 in total, are all female minors, with over 60 percent of them being under 8 years old. Crimes commited in these cases include rape, forcing children into sexual acts and indecent behavior.

If the numbers above are not striking enough, these cases have increased 55 percent compared to last year, which is an alarming trend.

According to the procurator, many of the suspects in these cases have capitalized on their position as teachers to take advantage of students. Meanwhile, young learners may feel powerless in such an event.

Image via The Shenzhen People's Procurator/WeChat

Earlier last month, on November 14, the Shenzhen People’s Procurator offered six suggestions to the city’s education bureau, including making it compulsory for students to take sexual assault-prevention courses and improving rules and regulations to better manage faculty.

For parents that are concerned their child may be the victim of sexual abuse, below are eight warning signs mentioned by the Children’s Center for Psychiatry, Psychology & Related Services. (The center does note that the presence of one of the signs included below is not necessarily an indication that your child is being sexually abused, but that noticing several signs should trigger alarm bells).