Year in review: Life-changing national policies in 2019

9. Measures to support de facto orphans

China issued its first guideline in July to strengthen the work of protecting and supporting de facto orphans.

According to the guideline, de facto orphans are children whose parents are under one of the following conditions: suffering from severe disabilities or illness, serving sentences in jail or under detention, in compulsory isolation for drug rehabilitation or restriction of personal freedom, or unable to be contacted.

If only one of a child's parents is under the aforementioned conditions and the other parent is dead or missing, the child can be identified as a de facto orphan.

The document stipulates several support measures for de facto orphans including a basic living allowance as well as healthcare and education support. The government will also purchase services and mobilize social organizations to provide psychological comfort and care to de facto orphans.

Parents that have the capacity but refuse to fulfill their childcare responsibilities will be fined, according to the guideline.