Online sexual abuse a hidden risk for children

This year's report also particularly mentioned six cases of online child sexual abuse. In these cases, live streaming platforms, such as the now inaccessible website known as "West Wind" in English, filmed "indecent" videos of children and profited through spreading "child pornography" online.

Live streaming has emerged strongly in China in recent years. However, problems such as the streaming of obscenity, violence and other inappropriate content surfaced with the expansion of the market. In recent months, Chinese authorities have stepped up their efforts to crack down websites selling indecent videos of children and display disturbing cartoons targeting children.

"In essence, sexual assault against children has nothing to do with sexual activity or behavior. It is just violence. And online child sex abuse is surely a violence against the child. Without regulation and protection, children tend to suffer both mentally and physically, and even develop permanent brain damage." Song Wenzhen, deputy director of the National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council, said in highlighting the risks of sexual abuse.

Song said many victims still bear the scars of such abuse into adulthood, some of which could be easily develop into them committing sex crimes on other children, if there is no immediate professional care service.

Tong Xiaojun, professor at the Social Work Education Center of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences proposed to set up an effective channel for people to report indecent videos of children to relevant authorities, calling for wide regulation from the government and society.