Reflections on the Adoption System for Minors from the "Child Abuse Case"

Recently, media have continuously reported that Tongtong (pseudonym), a second-grade boy from a primary school in Jiangbei, Nanjing, was beaten by his adoptive mother for failing to complete extracurricular homework assigned by her, resulting in multiple skin injuries across his body.

Earlier this month, netizens reported that a student from a Nanjing school was allegedly beaten by his adoptive mother, and police quickly intervened. Yesterday, news from the Nanjing prosecution indicated that the child's adoptive mother, surnamed Li, has been submitted by police to the Pukou District People's Court for approval of arrest on suspicion of intentional injury.

At 10 a.m. yesterday, the official microblog of the Nanjing People's Procuratorate of Jiangsu Province, @Nanjing Procuratorate, announced in its #MondayRelease# that the High-tech Development Zone Branch of the Nanjing Court had submitted a request to the Pukou District People's Court of Nanjing to approve the arrest of suspect Li, who is suspected of intentional injury, on the 12th. The case is currently under further review.

Meanwhile, the official microblog of the Jiangsu Provincial Public Security Department, "Peace Jiangsu," also released a message stating that on April 3, netizens reported that a student at a Nanjing school was suspected of being beaten by their adoptive mother. Nanjing police immediately launched an investigation, criminally detained suspect Li, who is suspected of intentional injury, on April 5, and submitted a request to the Pukou District People's Court of Nanjing to approve the arrest of Li on charges of intentional injury on April 12.

(Nanjing Morning Post)

Reflecting on the minor adoption system requires addressing two aspects.

The improvement and refinement of the minor adoption system must proceed from two aspects: first, before the adoption occurs; second, after domestic violence and abuse against minors happen. The primary work before the adoption of a minor is prevention. Specifically, the adoption conditions and qualifications of applicants must be strictly and comprehensively assessed. This assessment process should not rely solely on the applicant's one-sided statements or submitted written materials, as is currently the case, but must involve in-depth visits to neighborhood committees, communities, and families, focusing on the applicant's character, personality, and especially any history of mental illness or violent tendencies. Those with a history of domestic violence or abuse must be firmly rejected. Currently, in some places, the adoption process overly emphasizes the applicant's family conditions and financial strength while neglecting personal character and personality, which is noteworthy.

For adoptive parents who have already engaged in domestic violence or abuse against minors, in addition to pursuing legal liability according to laws and regulations, the principle of safeguarding minors' interests must be upheld. The adoptive parents' guardianship should be promptly terminated, and the minor should be handed over to individuals or families with genuine capability, love, and qualifications to provide a healthy growth environment. At this point, the minor's own opinions should be heard and respected, but the protection of the minor's rights must take priority. For example, after the Nanjing "child abuse case," the child expressed a desire to continue living with the adoptive mother. However, before fulfilling the child's request, it must first be ensured that the abuser's behavior has been corrected and that the adoptive parents will not engage in further abuse; otherwise, consideration should be given to changing the adoptive parents through proper procedures.

The "child abuse case" gives us an opportunity to fundamentally reflect on the minor adoption system. Only through such reflection can we further improve and perfect the existing adoption system for minors, thereby bringing more adopted minors under the protection of national laws and institutions, and providing them with opportunities and space for healthy physical and mental growth.

(Procuratorate Daily)