The Shanghai Women's Federation proposed that the legislative body put the crime of child abuse in the criminal law to protect children's health and legal rights.

In recent years, a series of child abuse cases have been brought to light. But conviction and sentencing are often difficult due to a lack of statutes, according to a proposal by the Shanghai Women's Federation submitted to the Shanghai People's Congress.

Currently, only the crime of abusing a member of one's family is specified in the criminal law, and the sentence doesn't exceed two years. There is no specific law against abusing children, it said.

The federation proposed that the legislative body should set up a crime of abuse of children and increase the punishment.

It also advised delineating custodians' legal responsibilities more clearly in the criminal law.