Courts expand support for vulnerable litigants

Chinese courts have increased judicial assistance for vulnerable groups involved in litigation in recent years, aiming to protect their legitimate rights and interests and improve people's livelihoods, officials from China's top court said.

Wang Zhenyu, head of the Supreme People's Court State Compensation Division, said at a news conference on Friday that courts nationwide assisted more than 128,000 individuals in 90,400 cases between 2023 and 2025, with assistance funds totaling more than 2.56 billion yuan ($369 million).

Wang stressed the importance of judicial assistance for litigants in distress, saying it is a fundamental component of China's socialist judicial system and can significantly ease hardships for those in need.

"Vulnerable groups involved in lawsuits, such as children, the elderly and people with severe disabilities, remain a priority in our assistance work," he said, adding that courts at all levels aided about 107,000 such individuals from 2023 to 2025.

"Compared with other types of cases, victims in criminal matters often suffer more severe harm, face greater difficulties in obtaining compensation, and therefore have more urgent needs for assistance,"Wang said.

To strengthen this work, the Supreme People's Court has issued multiple notices and held specialized meetings to tackle practical obstacles.

In one criminal case, a father from Sichuan province was killed, leaving behind six minor children, the oldest 12 years old. With the loss of their primary source of income, the family faced severe financial difficulties.

After learning of the situation, a court handling the case in Shandong province determined that the family qualified for judicial assistance and sent judges to travel more than 2,000 kilometers to the village where the family lived.

The judges signed an agreement with the children's mother to manage the judicial assistance funds.

Under the agreement, 20,000 yuan will be allocated annually for the children's living and educational expenses, with the village chief overseeing the use of the money.

Song Chuxiao, a judge from the division, praised the initiative, saying Chinese courts have consistently prioritized assisting minors involved in litigation.

"What we are supporting are the lives of children in distress, helping them regain the courage to return to a normal life," she said.

Song said some courts have adopted innovative approaches to assisting minors, emphasizing that judicial assistance is not limited to disbursing funds but combines one-time aid with long-term support.

In another case, a court in Yunnan province provided financial assistance to two minors involved in a civil dispute. After the children moved to live with their aunt in Zhejiang province, the court coordinated with women's federations in both Yunnan and Zhejiang to help resolve cross-provincial school enrollment issues.

The court also arranged professional psychological counseling and other support measures to help the children gradually return to a normal learning and living environment.

"Judicial assistance is a measure to safeguard people's livelihoods," Wang said. "It aims not only to remedy damage to health and property, but also to rebuild disrupted lives and restore hope that has been shattered by a case."

Wang said courts will continue to strengthen oversight of relief funds and expand funding sources, while conducting timely evaluations of the quality and effectiveness of judicial assistance cases.

"We are also enhancing information technology infrastructure to ensure more precise assistance and the proper use of relief funds," he said.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn