A team led by Chen Xiaoguang, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), visited Chongqing from Sept 15 to 17 to survey the municipality's efforts to improve judicial protection for minors.

The team, composed of members of the Committee on Social and Legal Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee, paid visits to Chongqing's youth health education base and legal aid service center as well as primary and secondary schools, and also held extensive exchanges with local courts and procuratorates.

At a symposium held on the last day of his visit, Chen recognized the city's progress in protecting the physical and mental health of minors, as well as their legitimate rights and interests. Chen said the revised Law on the Protection of Minors, which clarifies provisions of protection in six areas, family, school, society, Internet, government and judiciary, as well as the Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency, together form a basic legal system for the judicial protection of minors in China.

Chen also noted challenges in this work, including a lack of professionals who specialize in judicial protection, improvements that have yet to be made in educational correction measures for minors, and inadequate societal awareness of protecting minors.

Efforts are needed to strengthen theoretical studies, explore and expand new practices, address the root reasons behind juvenile delinquency, and pool resources from all sides to improve protection, according to Chen.

The team had completed a field study in Beijing municipality and held an online meeting with stakeholders in Qinghai province.