The Supreme People's Court has reinforced its "zero tolerance" policy toward the abuse and mistreatment of minors, underscoring the urgent need for severe penalties to fully safeguard children's health and safety.

The court said that severe punishment is necessary in cases of prolonged abuse, especially those involving cruel methods that result in a minor's death. It urged judges nationwide to take a firm stance against crimes targeting children.

In a landmark case released by the court last week, a woman surnamed Wen was sentenced to death for abusing and injuring a 2-year-old girl.

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According to the court, Wen lived with a married man surnamed Tian and his biological daughter from February to December 2023. During that period, Wen and Tian repeatedly abused the child by tying her up, hanging her, forcing her to stand for long periods, and subjecting her to cold and hunger. They also beat her with their fists, slippers, spatulas, wooden sticks and other objects.

On Dec 21, 2023, after Tian left for work, Wen severely beat the girl with a phone charging cable and other objects for wetting the bed, causing her to convulse and collapse. Wen then called Tian, and they took the child to a hospital, where she died.

The lower court found that Wen, acting in collusion with Tian, had committed both abuse and intentional injury. Her long-term and repeated actions, coupled with the beating on the day of the incident directly caused the rupture of the victim's right atrium, leading to her death, the court ruled.

"The woman's behavior severely violated social morality and fundamental human principles," the court said.

Given the heinous nature of the crimes, the cruel methods used and the severe social impact, Wen was sentenced to death for intentional injury and abuse, with lifelong deprivation of political rights. Following review and approval by the court, Wen was executed.

The court added that Tian, as the victim's father, not only failed to stop Wen's abuse but also condoned and participated in it, making him a principal offender. For his role in the crimes, Tian was sentenced to life imprisonment for intentional injury and abuse.

In another case disclosed by the SPC, a teacher promptly reported suspected abuse to a local court after noticing wounds on a teenage girl's face and body. Subsequent investigations found that the girl had been abused by her mother, who was later sentenced to seven years in prison.

The SPC said that child abuse inflicts lasting damage to minors' physical and mental development, disrupts family bonds and erodes social morality. It stressed that such acts are "not merely domestic issues" but are "violations of the law and breaches of basic human ethics".

The court emphasized that the family should be a haven of love, the "first lesson" in a child's healthy development and the "first line of defense" in safeguarding children's rights.

However, some guardians neglect their responsibilities, mistakenly justifying abuse as being "for the child's own good", or even participating in harm following changes in family relationships, the SPC said.

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"Such actions turn the family into a place of distress for minors, severely infringe upon their rights, and cross both legal and moral boundaries," it said.

The SPC called for a stronger crackdown on crimes against minors and stressed that guardians must fulfill their responsibilities in caring for, educating and supervising children.

It also urged various sectors of society, including civil affairs departments, women's federations, community committees and public security organs, to strengthen child protection efforts and provide more comprehensive safeguards.

Contact the writers at caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn