China's Political Season: Legislature calls for tougher laws against child abduction

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Under Chinese law, the statute of limitations for human trafficking 20 years. NPC Deputy Zhang Baoyan is calling to end it.

Bringing her case to the top. Zhang Baoyan spoke directly about her motion to Li Zhanshu, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Political Bureau, one of the most powerful figures in the ruling Communist Party.

ZHANG BAOYAN NPC DEPUTY "After hearing my speech, Li Zhanshu said child abduction is one of the most heinous crimes, and he told me he would discuss with relevant government branches carefully about the feasibility of legislation."

During the NPC, the nearly three-thousand deputies are divided into small panels, so that everyone can have a chance to speak. All the lawmakers, Chinese President Xi and grassroots workers alike, sit equally at the same table.

ZHANG BAOYAN NPC DEPUTY Abducting a child is like cutting away a piece of flesh from the parents. The longer that time goes by, the greater the heartbreak can become. If we allow human traffickers to stay at large 20 years after the crime even if they are caught, it can hurt the parents even more.

As Zhang spoke, I thought of this mom I met last year, Du Shufeng, now in her 40s, who has never stopped searching for her only son, missing for 21 years. He was abducted at the age of three.

DU SHUFENG MOTHER OF LOST CHILD "I traveled to many cities with this suitcase. I've printed his photo and my contact information on it. Sometimes, I find people behind me are taking pictures. I really appreciate them."

Over the past 20 years, the family has sold almost everything to cover Du's travel costs.

Du Shufeng says she kept waking up from the same dream of her son's face gazing at her while the human trafficker is abusing him.

HAN PENG BEIJING "According to Chinese law, the one who abducted Hemeng will now face no prosecution, if there is no evidence for new crimes in the last 20 years. That's the situation Deputy Zhang is trying her best to change.

This week, Zhang faced flashing cameras on the so-called "lawmakers' corridor". It's a passageway at the Great Hall of the People, where all of the lawmakers have to walk through to get in. They faced pointed questions from the press. For people like Zhang, there was no better place to advance her agenda in public.

ZHANG BAOYAN NPC DEPUTY "After my answer, my mobile phone received tons of text messages. Many people say they want to help us, not just in our field work, but also pressuring the government to make changes from the top.

Zhang started a charity organization "Baby Come Home" in 2007. But over the years, she says she realized it's not enough just to handle individual cases.

ZHANG BAOYAN NPC DEPUTY "Helping parents find their children is like seeking a low-success rate cure for a disease. But tougher laws can help deter the crimes in the first place. It's a prevention of the disease.

This is the first year Zhang has served as an NPC deputy. She says she knows it takes time for motions to be finally written into laws. But she pledges to keep fighting, to prevent other families from the lifelong heartbreak of a missing child. Han Peng, CGTN, Beijing.