A Chinese woman was granted immigrant status in Canada after "it was argued she'd face huge fines and stigmatization if deported to China," the London Free Press reported.  The woman, Hong Zhang, is a single mother who fled China while pregnant.

According to Hong's consultant, "deported single mothers face a fine of about $140,000 a child when they return to China with kids."

China's draconian set of family planning policies restrict most Chinese couples to having only one child and couples must apply for a birth permit before starting a pregnancy.  After a woman has had her permitted number of children (usually one), she is required to undergo IUD insertion or be sterilized. Unauthorized pregnancies must be terminated, and after an unauthorized birth, one spouse must be sterilized. 

Canada's decision to grant Hong immigrant status will surely save her from imminent punishment and sends a clear signal that China's one-child policy is a direct threat to human rights.  For more on China's one-child policy, please click here.