Bolsonaro Submits Bill with Higher Penalties for Sexual Abuse

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro submitted to Congress a bill (PL) from the Ministry of Women, Family, and Human Rights that suggests amending the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code to raise the penalty for perpetrators of sexual abuse by exploiting the trust of underage or disabled victims.

The proposal is to increase the length of sentences when perpetrators, including religious ministers and health or education professionals, have taken advantage of the trust of the victim or relatives to commit sexual abuse crimes,  and to ensure that the victim is treated with dignity during the investigation.

On Monday, July 13th, Minister Damares Alves said the purpose of the proposal is to prevent the running of the statute of limitations for crimes committed by members of the ordained clergy.

“In Brazil, some child abusers can escape punishment because when they reach the age of 70, they benefit from a reduced statute of limitations [for the crime], as in the case of João de Deus, who abused not only women but also adolescents.

Under the Criminal Procedure Code, the statute of limitations varies with the length of the imprisonment under the Penal Code – the shorter the sentence, the shorter the statute of limitations. This PL raises the age limit for those entitled to reduction to age 80.

Source: R7