The previous law included only women, making it difficult for the male victims to pursue legal action in case of sexual assault.
The amendment has been passed by the top legislature, Xinhua news agency reported.
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In 2010, a security guard sexually abused his male colleague in the employee dormitory. Instead of being charged with sexual assault, the offender was convicted on the lesser charge of intentional injury and was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
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The revised law has also repealed sex with underage prostitutes as the crime and reclassified it as rape.
As under the previous law, people face a maximum of 15 years in prison for sex with prostitutes less than 14 years old, and those convicted of raping a child may be sentenced to death sentence.
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