Complementary Legal Frameworks for Child Protection in China: Supplementary Laws and Regulatory Provisions

This chapter explores China’s supplementary legal framework for children’s rights protection, focusing on five key laws covering different developmental stages: Maternal and Child Health Care Law, Teachers Law, Labor Law, Public Security Administration Penalties Law, and Prison Law. These laws complement core legislation like the Law on the Protection of Minors, addressing specific rights from prenatal health, education, and labor to juvenile justice. Key provisions include maternal-infant health services, teachers’ obligations to protect students, special labor safeguards for underage workers (16–18), lenient penalties for juvenile offenders, and separate detention for juvenile prisoners. Reflecting a multi-level system integrating health, education, labor, and justice, these norms align with international standards such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, forming a holistic protection system emphasizing prevention, education, and child-specific safeguards.