China drafts new rules to protect foster children  

寄養家庭虐待兒童擬追刑責

昨天，《家庭寄養管理辦法》（征求意見稿）經過國務院法制辦征求意見。征求意見稿規定，寄養家庭寄養兒童不得超過2人，且無未滿6周歲兒童。此外，借機斂財、歧視虐待寄養兒童的家庭將被強制解除寄養關系，構成犯罪的將被追刑責。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- The Legal Affairs Office of China's State Council has drafted improved regulations for child foster care and submitted them for public scrutiny on Sunday, the Beijing Times reports.

Under the new rules, if foster children suffer from personal or property damage caused by members of foster homes, caregivers will bear civil liability for the damages. When the circumstances constitute a crime, foster parents will be subject to criminal prosecution.

The rules also stipulate that each family can provide care for two foster children at the most. The existing regulations allow families to have as many as three children in foster care.

In addition to economic requirements to become foster parents, the improved regulations state that foster families can not have children under the age of six.

Foster relationships will be terminated if foster children suffer from abuse and discrimination from caregivers, according to the draft.