Chinese lawmakers have listed sexually assault against males as a crime during regulatory revisions on Sunday.

According to Chinese state media, the amendment postulates that immodest assault on both men and women would now carry a minimum sentence of five years in jail. The former law only specified women as victims.

Like Us on Facebook

This amendment comes after a highly publicized case five years ago involving a 42-year-old security guard, who sexually assaulted her 18-year-old male colleague. In the absence of regulations about male rape, the suspect was charged with intentional injury and sentenced to only 12 months in jail. Another example was a man, who was robbed and raped by another man in Luzhou, Sichuan Province. Based on reports, the suspect was not found guilty of anything.

Under the new laws, sex with prostitutes under 18 is classified as rape. Many advocates have been pushing for this law for many years. Right groups also want to intensify efforts against forced prostitution and illegal child trafficking. Prior to the amendments, only sexual activities with prostitutes below 14 years old was considered rape and assailants faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail.

In a Weibo survey conducted early this year, of the 10,000 respondents, nearly 93% opted for these resolution, which were submitted in August. Netizens are generally happy about the new regulations.

"If the law passes, it means that China's legal system is keeping up with international standards, which is huge progress," wrote a citizen from Heilongjiang province, as cited in the Wall Street Journal.

TagsCriminal Law, criminal law revision, sexual assault in men, male rape, underage prostitution, prostitution