In Depth: China’s Debate Over Harsher Punishments for Buyers of Abducted Women

Combating human trafficking has been high on agenda at this week’s “Two Sessions,” the annual key political gatherings in Beijing, amid a string of cases that brought a lot more public attention to the long-standing issue.

A high-profile case of mother kept shackled and other similar cases have renewed discussion on whether the law should be amended to impose harsher penalties for the buyers of trafficked women and children, as a simultaneous crackdown on both buyers and sellers is seen as essential for effectively combating the problem.