Professor He Ting’s Book "Protecting the Most Vulnerable: Guidelines and Legal Analysis for Interviewing Minors in Cases of Sexual Abuse" Published

In April 2025, Protecting the Most Vulnerable: Guidelines and Legal Analysis for Interviewing Minors in Cases of Sexual Abuse, authored by Professor He Ting’s research team at Beijing Normal University’s Faculty of Law, was officially published by Peking University Press. The book is a key research output of the "Protecting the Most Vulnerable" project initiated by the Child and Adolescent Prosecution Research Center at Beijing Normal University, focusing on mechanisms for handling cases of sexual abuse against minors.

                                        

Sexual abuse of minors has become a predominant form of crime targeting children, drawing significant societal concern. Such cases often involve contentious legal issues in substantive law, procedural law, and evidence law. A critical challenge lies in the interviewing process of minor victims, which risks causing "secondary harm" and failing to obtain high-quality victim statements, thereby compromising case outcomes.

The Child and Adolescent Prosecution Research Center launched the "Protecting the Most Vulnerable" project in 2021. Through field investigations in over ten cities, districts, and counties, and drawing on international best practices in addressing sexual abuse crimes against minors, the research team drafted the Guidelines for Interviewing Minors in Cases of Sexual Abuse (Pilot Version). These guidelines were tested in multiple jurisdictions. Feedback from the pilot implementation was analyzed, and revisions were made in alignment with newly issued regulatory documents. The book provides detailed interpretations and legal justifications for each guideline, supplemented by relevant case studies, legal provisions, and international references. It aims to equip practitioners with tools to grasp the nuances of interviewing minors in sexual abuse cases while safeguarding them from secondary harm and ensuring reliable statements.

The book comprises three chapters and appendices. Chapter 1, "Interviewing Principles and Rules", outlines core principles and procedural rules for interviewing minor victims and witnesses. Chapter 2, "Interview Process", divides the procedure into three stages—preparation, initial communication, and formal interviews—and details the steps for each phase to ensure systematic case handling. Chapter 3, "Interview Content", focuses on two primary categories of sexual abuse: rape and molestation. Drawing on the Criminal Law and related judicial interpretations, it systematically lists key inquiry points for these offenses, which constitute the majority of reported cases. The appendices include foundational materials such as research reviews and field survey reports.

Amid the rising prevalence of sexual abuse cases involving minors, this book not only advances academic discourse but also offers actionable solutions to complex challenges in judicial practice. It bridges theoretical innovation with practical application, serving as a vital reference for legal professionals and policymakers to strengthen protections for child victims and enhance the quality of criminal justice outcomes.