Chinese legislators have voted to abolish the decades-old "re-education through labour" programme, called "laojiao", saying it had served its historical purpose.
While lawmakers acknowledged the important role "laojiao" had played in safeguarding public security, maintaining social stability and correcting offenders, they also agreed that the programme has been superseded by other correctional schemes, new laws and amendments, News24 reports.
China had introduced re-education through labour in 1957 as a speedy way to handle petty offenders, but the system was soon criticised for allowing a police panel to issue sentences of up to four years without trial.
Meanwhile, the National People's Congress also backed the easing of the one-child policy, which was imposed more than three decades ago to prevent overpopulation.