He Yong

Media commentator

As long as children continue to be the victims of injury and death at the hands of parents or guardians who fail to take good care of minors, punishment by law for negligence should be brought forward. In many cases, parents who have lost their children are seen as victims of a tragedy and thus naturally escape legal liability, and instead receive sympathy from the public.

Therefore, for example, in the case where a child suffocated in a car unattended by a responsible adult - if the situation was caused by the negligence of parents, they would bear no liability. However, if the fault lay with a teacher or school bus driver, they would have to serve jail time as well as make indemnity payments. Such benevolence actually worsens the situation, undercutting a sense of parental responsibility or vigilance against everyday dangers.

The attitude of a nation toward children determines the future. Any infringement on a child’s right to live under the proper care and guidance of a responsible adult, no matter by whom, should be punished with zero tolerance. When parents or guardians fail to fulfill their duties, the law should not respond with mercy but punishment.

It is not adding insult to injury