The initiative received 305 votes in favor, 32 against (Vox) and one abstention. The bill of the Parliament of Catalonia proposes a reform of the Criminal Code so that crimes of pedophilia are not prescribed, punishable by more than five years in prison.
The plenary session of Congress has approved the treatment, with the support of all groups except the far-right party Voxthe bill of the Parliament of Catalonia proposed by the reform of the Criminal Code, so that serious pedophilia crimes, punishable by more than five years in prison, are not prescribed.
The debate included activists and victims of abuse María Dantas and Miguel Hurtadomain character of the documentary ‘Examination of Conscience’ and the first complainant of the pedophile case in the Montserrat Abbey.
“It is not a partisan law, it is a law that comes from civil society, from the victims who petitioned the Parliament of Catalonia and which listened to us,” he noted.
“Trauma, shame, guilt and fear grip us for years, and if we can break the silence, often nothing more can be done because justice can be done even though our pain has not yet passed,” he stated.
The initiative, which has received 305 votes in favor, 32 against (Vox) and one abstentionhas been defended in the House of Representatives by the deputies of the Catalan Parliament Judit Alcalá (PSC), Raquel Sans (ERC) and Susanna Segovia (Comuns).
The Socialist lawmaker, who began her speech by asking for forgiveness “to those who have suffered from the silence of the entire society,” has demanded support “for justice and respect for all survivors, and because a crime cannot go unpunished.”
By C.K.DSans has stressed that the proposed reform is being implemented in 11 of the 27 EU countries and in 33 countries in the world: “We must end impunity for sexual abuse of minors, thanks to the survivors who pushed us to do this bring initiative”.
He PP has supported the initiative for this process and “conceded this proposal”, but has warned that the Criminal Code “cannot be changed at our whim”. It has therefore announced that it will call for expert representations and has expressed its support for expanding the debate to other areas, such as victims with disabilities.
Mikel Legarda (EAJ-PNV) explained that “despite serious doubts” they are not voting against “pending a better judgment during processing”.
Current limitation period: 35 years
Currently, the Criminal Code sets the limitation period for serious cases of sexual abuse of minors at 35 years. The bill proposes to amend Article 131.3 so that it establishes the inexorability of crimes against sexual freedom, committed against minors and considered serious, crimes punishable by a prison sentence of more than five years.
In addition, it is proposed to amend the Law on Minors to apply a different limitation regime for sexual crimes committed by minors where the victim is also a minor, maintaining in such cases the regime that currently already applies to them.
Thus, it is established that the limitation period for these crimes is a maximum of ten years from the victim’s 35th birthday, or, if the victim dies earlier, from the moment of his death.
Source: EITB
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
