According to records of the Supreme People's Court of China, between 2013 and 2016, courts at various levels across the country received more than 10,000 child sexual assault cases.

However, most sexual abuse cases happen in private domains, such as at home, which makes it difficult for the police to collect evidence.

To deter child sexual abuse, China's criminal law and minors protection law have prescribed heavy punishments for offenders. However, to protect children from sexual abuse, the most important thing is to prevent it from happening in the first place. For example, China may learn from the U.S. example of posting offenders' personal information online and restraining them from approaching playgrounds and other places frequented by children.

A reporting system should also be shored up. Kindergarten teachers and hospital doctors, if they come across cases of sexual abuse, must report it immediately to the relevant authorities or they should be held accountable as well. If the calamity does happen, it's crucial to prevent further damage to the child, whose privacy must be protected and whose identity must not be revealed to the public. As more than 70 percent of sexual abuse cases involve children's acquaintances, like teachers and neighbors, parents must stay alert to chances of sexual assault on their children.

When such attacks happen in public places, everyone has the responsibility to save the victims by directly preventing the molesting or calling the police. Adults are supposed to protect every child from sexual assault, be the child their own or others'.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article published in Guangzhou Daily on August 18)