China’s first laws designed to protect minors from sexual harassment on school campuses, including excessive physical contact and suggestive messages and images, are now in effect in the city of Hangzhou.
The new rules prohibit teachers from any type of “sex-related” intimate behaviors with children and cover students in kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools.
The Hangzhou Xihu District People’s Procuratorate and the Hangzhou Xihu District Education Bureau on Monday jointly announced the laws, which were publicized by state-run newspaper People’s Daily.
Any such behavior that is carried out on minors younger than 14 constitutes sexual harassment, regardless of whether the minor is willing.
Previously, there were no laws governing the management of sexual abuse cases in schools, though sex with someone younger than 14 is illegal in China.