Most of Chinese citizens surveyed call for harsher punishment for sexual harassment

Almaty. August 23. Silkroadnews – Most of the Chinese citizens surveyed call for harsher punishment for sexual harassment, China Daily reported.
“The China Youth Daily research showed that of 2,023 people surveyed, 71.5 percent wanted harsher punishment for people committing sexual harassment. Over 53 percent of women said that they or someone they knew had been sexually harassed on the subway”, report said.
It is noted that Beijing police recently began combating sexual harassment in the subway and arrested more than 20 suspects within two weeks.
“Despite the current achievement, a single crackdown far from tackles the root cause of the problem. More laws and regulations are needed and law enforcement should be intensified”, the agency quoted Zhang Lingxiao, a lawyer with Jingsh Law Firm, saying.
According to article 44 of the law on public security administration, a person who molests another person or intentionally exposes their body in public should be detained for a period of from five to ten days. Article 237 of the criminal law provides for imprisonment for up to five years for those who act indecently or threaten a woman with violence or coercion.
Zhang noted, the current laws on sexual harassment are not specific enough in terms of definition or punishment. Respondents to the survey were also concerned about the difficulty of judging whether sexual harassment had actually been committed.
“… with 68.7 percent worried that the common physical contact on the subway during peak hours could be used an excuse for sexual harassment. A total of 63.2 percent of those surveyed pointed out that it was difficult for subway cameras to record harassment; 41.1 percent said the reluctance of victims to call the police or provide evidence posed difficulties in fighting sexual harassment; 29.6 percent said victims might be unsafe if they overreacted”, report reads.
It is also said that Zhang called for more supervision of subway, quicker response of the police, as well as better education on sexual harassment.