China Rescues 89 Children From Trafficking Rings

Posted December 24th, 2012 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
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Chinese authorities say they have rescued 89 children and arrested 355 suspects in a crackdown on a number of suspected human trafficking rings.

State-run media say the operation began December 18 in several provinces, including Guangdong and Sichuan. The children are being cared for by the government while authorities try to locate their parents.

China has a thriving black market in children and women. Analysts say the country's strict one-child policy has helped create demand exploited by trafficking rings, mostly involving buyers who are willing to pay premium costs for baby boys, as well as for girls and women destined to be future brides.

The Chinese government has taken steps to combat the problem, including tightening lax adoption rules and starting a crackdown on child trafficking rings.

Figures published on Xinhua news agency show that in 2011, authorities broke up more than 3,000 trafficking rings, rescuing 8,660 children and more than 15,000 women.