中华人民共和国刑法(The Criminal Law of PRC (Amendment IX))

The criminal provision governing human trafficking, Article 240 (“trafficking in women or children”), defines it as abducting, kidnapping, buying, trafficking or transporting women for sale. The prescribed sentence ranges from 5-0 years. Longer sentences, including life imprisonment, can apply in eight specific circumstances when the offender: (1) leads a trafficking group, (2) traffics more than three women and/or children, (3) rapes abducted women, (4) coerces abducted women into prostitution, (5) using violence or drug, (6) stealing infants or young children, (7) inflicts severe injuries or death to victims or their relatives, and (8) sells abducted women abroad. The death penalty may apply in highly severe cases. The most important feature of Amendment IX is criminalizing the purchase of abducted women or children. Previously, the original text in 1997 law allowed leniency for buyers not obstructing rescue efforts. However, Amendment IX (Article 241) offers this leniency only to co-operative buyers through lighter or mitigated punishments. This change is a significant as a clean criminal record is crucial for employment in China. Article 241 also directs judges to apply relevant criminal provisions to buyers who commit severe violent crimes like rape, unlawful detention, injuries, or insults against abducted women and children.

《中国人民共和国刑法》中第二百四十条（“拐卖妇女、儿童罪”）中将人口拐卖定义为拐骗、绑架、收买、贩麦或接送妇女进行买卖。规定的刑期从 五年到十 年不等。在以下八种特定情况下，犯罪者可被判处更长的刑期，包括终身监禁：（1）领导贩运团伙；（2）贩运 三名以上妇女和/或儿童；（3）强奸被拐卖妇女；（4）强迫被拐卖妇女卖淫；（5）使用暴力或毒品；（6）偷窃婴幼儿；（7）造成受害者或其亲属严重受伤或死亡；（8）将被拐卖妇女卖到国外。情节极其严重的，可判处死刑。修正案 IX 的最大特点是将购买被拐妇女或儿童的行为定为刑事犯罪。在此之前，1997 年法律的原始文本允许对不妨碍营救工作的购买者从宽处理。但是，第九修正案（第 241 条）仅通过对体现合作意识的购买者给予宽大处理。这一变化意义重大，因为无犯罪记录对于在中国就业至关重要。第二百四十条还指示法官对犯有强奸、非法拘禁、伤害或其他严重暴力罪行的买家适用相关刑事条款。