Lian Hongyang

Media commentator

The sooner negligent parents that cause children injury or death are sanctioned by the Criminal Law, the better protection children will have. Legislation fails to respond to the alarming facts that an increasingly great number of children are the victims of injury or death due to parental negligence. Traditionally, parenting has been regarded as a private domestic affair. Even if parents fail to do their job and cause their children harm, people believe that the public can only sympathize. This is wrong.

I think negligent parents should be held criminally liable, as the purpose of the law is not only to punish criminals, but also to educate the public. Aware of explicit guidance by the law, people will naturally become more careful and in turn make better decisions, thus better perform their duties and obligations. In some countries, the law even forbids parents to leave minors unattended at home, not mentioning causing injury or death to a minor, even if done involuntarily.