Drug addicts, sex offenders stripped of guardianship of minors

Drug addicts, gamblers, sex offenders and child abusers may soon be stripped of their guardianship of minors, according to a jointly-published notice by China's top legal authorities.

In addition to the previously mentioned criteria, it said those found selling, abandoning, abusing and using violence against minors, forcing, cajoling and using minors in begging or crimes, along with several other scenarios, would be stripped of their guardianship.

The paper was published by the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Zhang Shifeng, an official of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, said depriving parental custody is a warning and punishment to them for violating minors' rights.

Civil affairs departments will establish institutions to take interim custody of children of those who lose guardianship, and appeal for removal of custody if necessary.

Zhang added that the state's custody of children can create a favorable environment for children.