立法者考虑严惩贩卖儿童

 　　The ninth draft amendment¹ to the Criminal Law was submitted to the Standing² Committee of the National People's Congress earlier this week.

　　It comes amid continuing discussions on China's social media outlets³ about whether or not child traffickers should be sentenced to death.

　　The amendment advocates "light punishment" for buyers who don't harm abducted⁴ children or hinder police rescue of the victimized children.

　　At present, such buyers would likely be exempt⁵ from punishment.

　　He Youlin, a member of the NPC Standing Committee, says this indeed gives a free reign⁶ to the act of children trafficking.

　　立法者考虑严惩贩卖儿童

　　"Those who buy children can get lesser⁷ punishment or even an exemption⁸ only because they don't ill-treat the abducted children or appear cooperative in rescue operations. But will it embolden⁹ those possible buyers? We should take it seriously."

　　Child trafficking has been rampant¹⁰ for a long time in rural China, especially in poverty-stricken southwestern regions. Some pregnant women have been found to have sold their own children.

　　The traditional preference of boys over girls, especially in the countryside, has also been blamed for boosting the trade.

　　Some rural residents who don't have a boy would like to buy one, which many law experts say fuels demand.

　　Jiang Zhuangde is also taking part in the discussion of the amendment. He backs harsher punishments for child buyers.

　　"The effort to crack down on child buyers is obviously not enough. The current penalties are too light to deter¹¹ the offenders¹². The huge demand is another major reason why child trafficking becomes rampant. Those who buy children should face criminal penalties or harsher punishment at least."

　　According to the Supreme¹³ People's Court, nearly 13,000 people involved in trafficking were punished between 2010 and 2014 with over half receiving sentences ranging from at least five years in prison to the death penalty.

　　Under the current law, child traffickers can be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison. If more than three victims are involved or if there are casualties, the punishments can rise to life in prison or death.

　　A recent poll on Sina.com showed over 92 percent of the more than 21,000 respondents recommended that the same punishment imposed on child traffickers should also be applied¹⁴ to buyers.

　　For CRI, I'm Luo Wen.

1 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 abducted   

劫持，诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（肢体等）外展

参考例句：

• Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that she was abducted. 侦探尚未排除她被绑架的可能性。
• The kid was abducted at the gate of kindergarten. 那小孩在幼儿园大门口被绑架走了。

5 exempt   

adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者

参考例句：

• These goods are exempt from customs duties.这些货物免征关税。
• He is exempt from punishment about this thing.关于此事对他已免于处分。

6 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

7 lesser   

adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地

参考例句：

• Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。
• She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及，但程度较轻。

8 exemption   

n.豁免，免税额，免除

参考例句：

• You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
• These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。

9 embolden   

v.给…壮胆，鼓励

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine,he went over to introduce himself to her.他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• The Prime Minister was steadily emboldened by the discovery that he faced no opposition.发现自己并未遭到反对，首相渐渐有了信心。

10 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

11 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

12 offenders   

n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物）

参考例句：

• Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
• Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。

13 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

14 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。