TING Ting is 15 years old. Her daughter Mei Mei was born 13 months ago. The father of the baby was sentenced last month to more than 10 years in prison on charges of rape and homicide.

Both mother and baby, who live at Xiaoxiwangzhijia, a Shanghai-based non-governmental organization dedicated to juvenile protection and care, exemplify a juvenile protection system in China that advocates say is seriously wanting.

There is no specific national law on the welfare security of children, and what regulations do exist are difficult to implement and often ignored.