Chinese Regions Offer Rewards for Tip-Offs on Trafficked Women and Children

At least 16 parts of China have started offering rewards that can reach up to 20,000 yuan ($3,151) in some areas for tips about trafficking of women and children following a string of cases, including the high-profile case of a mother of eight who was kept shackled in a shed.

The move reflects the renewed focus of the government on the long-standing issue that has left tens of thousands of women’s safety at risk in the wake of reignited calls for harsher penalties for traffickers. Those calls prompted the Ministry of Public Security in early March to launch a special campaign targeting the trafficking of women and children that will run until the end of the year.