world
Chinese State Media Report Reveals Abuses in Youth Correction Centers
A Chinese state media report has revealed instances of beatings and sexual assaults at youth correction centres disguised as educational programs. These quasi-military institutions charge high fees to address behavioral issues in teenagers. The exposure has prompted calls for improved oversight of such facilities.
Apr 22, 9:00 PM·1m read1 source
South China Morning PostAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
Chinese teenagers dressed in camouflage uniforms have been shown expressing gratitude in front of cameras at youth correction centres, but a Chinese state media report reveals they are beaten or sexually assaulted behind the scenes. The report, published in the news magazine Ban Yue Tan, details how some camps use physical punishment disguised as gratitude education or military education.
Ban Yue Tan serves as a mouthpiece of the Communist Party.
These institutions accept teenagers who are rebellious, weary of studying, addicted to playing electronic games, or suffer from depression. They charge between 8,000 and 20,000 yuan (US$1,200 and US$3,000) a month to correct student behavior in a quasi-military style, according to the Ban Yue Tan report.
South China Morning Post reported that the article exposing these issues was published at 9:00am on 23 Apr 2026 by Alice Yan in Shanghai.
The revelations have led to calls for better supervision and monitoring of such institutions.
