As reported by Sixth Tone, Shanghai is planning to implement an online database of sex offenders, to be used by institutes and businesses during recruitment. The purpose of the database is to restrict an offender’s access to minors.
The initiative was first proposed by Yao Haisong, along with 11 other Shanghai representatives, during this year’s ‘Two Sessions’ in March. It has since gained approval by the Comprehensive Governance Committee of the city. “The citywide blacklist can secure not only the physical and mental health of juveniles but also maintain the harmony and stability of the city,” declared the committee.
Once the database goes online, industries including schools, training centers, hospitals, libraries and amusement parks are required to run a background check on every candidate and prevent those convicted of sex crimes from close contact with children.
Image via Exeuctiveconsulting
This measure has been trialed in Minhang District since August 2017. Being the first of its kind in China, the mechanism bans any person with a sexual assault record during the past five years from access to specified jobs. “By doing so, we intend to eradicate the abhorrent behavior from the source. We also hope it will serve as an example for both the city and the country.” Minhang District People’s Procuratorate (the agency for both prosecution and investigation exclusive to China) told Sixth Tone.
Until now, Minhang District has cross-referenced over 8,000 employees working in specific industries. Nonetheless, as a result of huge population mobility of the city, statistics of merely one district can hardly provide sufficient and efficient protection for minors in Shanghai, which calls for the expansion of the database.
The new database will be a collaboration between the Shanghai People’s Procuratorate, Shanghai Higher People’s Court, Shanghai Public Security Bureau and Shanghai Education Commission. Shanghai Education Commission has also advised that they will extend their inspection of teachers during recruitment to include a political and personal records examination, as is reported by Kankanews.
Image via The Paper
The issue of sexual assault and keeping children safe is of utmost importance, and fortunately, the city of Shanghai is at the forefront in the battle against it. In addition to this new regulation, it also published textbooks of sex education which teaches self-awareness and self-protection.
[Title Image via Sohu]
