China's Floating Population: The Group at Highest Risk
China is a vast nation with tremendous differences among cultural groups. One of the great differences exists between rural and urban citizens, with those living in cities having access to all modern conveniences and technologies. By contrast, rural people still exist without electricity, with poor roads, and often no public services, such as water and sewer.
Within the complex cultural mix, China contains a large "floating population." This population mostly rural, "floats" from place to place as labor jobs are located. Recent reports have estimated that at least 200 million people make up today's floating population in China. Three million of these are in and around Beijing.
Children who join the floating population are at high risk for abuse. Many are forced into prostitution as a means of survival, and others are subject to hard and abusive labor, preventing them from any opportunities to complete their education or engage in healthy personal relationships. Drug use is prevalent among China"s floating population.
The floating population is becoming a major issue in China's battle to curb the AIDS epidemic. As more children are being orphaned, they are joining the floating population at younger and younger ages. As this occurs, there is more and more risk of children being exposed to a life of crime, prostitution, child labor and other abuses.