Law change targets buyers as well as sellers of trafficked humans

Parents at a gathering looking for their missing children in Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan province on April 26, 2015. [Photo/CFP]

People buying trafficked women or children will face criminal punishment from Nov 1, cpd.com.cn, a news portal website of the Ministry of Public Security, reported.

The amendment, approved on Saturday, stresses the punishment for buyers whereas previous provisions said they were exempt if they did not maltreat abducted children and women or obstruct their rescue.

The new law shows no mercy to buyers landing a crucial blow against the human trafficking business.

All buyers will be punished while those who "didn't maltreat victims or obstruct a rescue" may receive lighter punishment.

It is the first time China has made a stand against human trafficking by punishing buyers rather than just sellers.

Any buyers of children or women will be exempt from the law if they confess their crime to police before Oct 31.

Police have rescued 3,800 abducted children by using a nationwide anti-human trafficking DNA data base.