China frees over 24,000 abducted women, children

Chinese police rescued more than 24,000 abducted children and women last year, some of whom had been sold for adoption or forced into prostitution as far away as Angola.

Trafficking of women and children is a serious problem in China — blamed in part on the strict “one-child” policy, which has put a premium on baby boys — and activists say the cases uncovered by police are just the tip of the iceberg.

The Ministry of Public Security said police across the country had rescued 8,660 children and 15,458 women in 2011 — all victims of trafficking.