Training program facilitates protection of children's rights

Deng Shuting, a public prosecutor specializing in the criminal prosecution of the minors, gives schoolgirls a sexual assault prevention lesson in Shaoyang city, central China's Hunan province. [China Women's News/Yin Yong]

Every Tuesday, Deng Shuting, a public prosecutor who is responsible for the criminal prosecution of the minors from the People's Procuratorate of Shuangqing district, Shaoyang city, central China's Hunan province, gives students lectures on sexual assault prevention, helping them develop a clear understanding of their bodies and teaching them self-protection skills.

The Hunan Women's Federation has launched a training program to cultivate lecturers like Deng, training them to promote child safety and protection knowledge. To date, it has trained 639 lecturers across the province and given more than 1,400 lessons at grassroots level, benefiting millions of people.

"Reviewing the program, we have achieved significant results," said Fang Qiong, vice-president of the federation. "We have trained professional lecturers from a variety of fields serving the whole province. They are popular among schools, villages and communities, and they have become a power in ensuring the safe growth of children."

Since the beginning of this year, the federation has worked with provincial education authorities and public security departments to roll out a three-year work plan, which is designed to hold more than 100 publicity and educational activities on girls' protection annually in rural areas, communities and schools.

The work plan aims to raise the awareness and ability of people from all walks of life to protect girls' legitimate rights and interests, as part of wider efforts to protect the minors from the violation of their rights and create a healthy growing environment for them.

In March 2020, the province's procuratorate and federation issued a notice on jointly building a cooperative mechanism to protect the rights and interests of women and children. The two sides would have regular meetings, enhancing their communication and joint training in a bid to strengthen cooperation and improve efficiency in coping with cases of domestic violence, sexual assault or the violation of women and children's legal rights.