The Ministry of Youth and Children wants to extend the statute of limitations for sexual crimes against minors every year. Now, time begins to pass when the victims turn 35 years old. From this moment on, the period during which the criminal responsibility of the perpetrators ends will be determined, depending on the seriousness of the crime. The agriculture department headed by Serra Rejo brings it to 45, according to ministerial sources. As stated in the reform of the Law on the Protection of Children and Adolescents from Violence (LOBIVI), which was drafted by the Ministry and is now being negotiated by order of the government. The text took a few weeks of discussion with other ministries, such as Interior and Justice. The goal, according to these sources, is for the document to pass through the Council of Ministers within the next few weeks, so that it can begin its parliamentary process.
In Spain, sexual crimes are punishable by a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years, in the most serious cases. With the reform that Rigo is planning, these crimes will not be dropped until the victims have served at least fifty years, since the period from which they start escaping will last for 45 years. The reform involves amending the Penal Code.
Currently, a path has been opened in Congress to study the prevention of these crimes. A year ago, the Chamber decided to take into account reform of the Penal Code so that child abuse crimes punishable by imprisonment for more than five years would not be dropped. Something that is happening in countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden. In any case, parliamentary calculations have become very complicated since Gantz announced that he would not support government initiatives.
Victims of church sodomy have been complaining for years. One of the main problems facing survivors of child sexual abuse is that it takes a long time for them to recognize themselves as victims and be able to know this. Therefore, don’t report it either. According to a recent report by two of the world’s largest victims’ associations – which in turn cites a study prepared in Germany based on testimonies of victims of child abuse in religious and secular institutions – the average age of disclosure of abuse by survivors is 52 years.
In the past few weeks, details of the reform planned by the Ministry in Lobevi became known. Among them, for example, is the establishment of a committee to recognize victims of sexual violence during childhood, especially in public institutions (such as educational centers) and private institutions (such as churches or sports clubs). Something that can be resorted to by victims whose cases are already specific, and which can be recognized as such without a judicial ruling, which is very common among those who have suffered abuse for decades in the religious sphere.
At the same time, Rigo expressed his concern on social media about the sodomy case revealed in these memoirs, which prompted the Vatican to open an investigation against Spanish Bishop Rafael Zornoza. “It is unbearable. We will amend the Lobevi Law to create a commission for victims of sexual violence, especially by public or private institutions, like this one, and extend the years of statute of limitations for these crimes. It is justice,” the minister said.
La Lopivi, approved in 2021, extended the statute of limitations for sexual crimes against minors to 35 years, which then began when victims were 18 years old. We have included measures to protect children who are victims of any type of violence. Although it was considered a groundbreaking law, four years later children’s organizations complained that the standard had run out of development.
Sources from the Ministry explained weeks ago, when the main lines of amending the Youth and Children’s Factory were identified, that since its entry into force, a structural delay has been revealed, especially with regard to the legal protection of minors. Therefore, they plan to take measures to avoid re-victimization and to resist the right to be heard by minors. Measures related to indirect violence were also recognized.
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