China’s New “Two-Child Policy” & the Continuation of Massive Crimes Against Women and Children
After 35 years of brutal enforcement of the one-child policy, the Chinese Communist Party announced in late October that a universal two-child policy will be adopted, allowing all married Chinese couples to have two children. The policy change was driven by serious demographic concerns currently facing China—a rapidly aging population, a shrinking labor force, and a dramatic gender imbalance that drives regional human trafficking problems and potentially higher levels of crime and societal instability. Central authorities continue to insist that family planning will continue to be a “fundamental national policy” and many unanswered questions remain about implementation of the policy. Why did China not completely abolish birth restrictions? Will coercive implementation continue? What will happen to China’s massive bureaucracy of family planning officials? Will the two-child policy counter China’s massive demographic problems? This hearing will examine the potential demographic, economic, and social implications associated with China’s new “Two-Child Policy” and seek recommendations on how the international community can assist China to address them.
This hearing is webcasted here.