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With
the entry of this law, victims
of sexual violence will be
given more time to reconstruct
the facts and present the case
before the courts of justice. /
A.M. Costa Rica wire services
photo
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President
signs law extending deadline for
complaints of sexual crimes
against minors
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By the
A.M. Costa Rica staff
President Carlos Alvarado and the
Minister of Justice and Peace,
Marcia Gonzalez, signed on Tuesday
the law known as ‘Right to Time,’
which gives more time to report
sexual crimes against victims who
were minors when the crime
occurred.
With the reform of Article #31 of
the Criminal Code, the period was
increased from 10 to 25 years,
which applies from the date on
which the victim reaches the age
of majority, allowing it to be
possible to denounce up to 43
years after the fact.
"This project extends the
guarantees to the people affected
and allows us to address a problem
that requires the most attention
from the government," said
President Alvarado. "By
strengthening the protection of
minors, this law helps the access
to justice."
The change in the article has the
technical and political support of
the National Institute for Women
and the National Children's Trust.
The updated article does not
modify existing criminal offenses
for sexual crimes against minors
and does not increase the
corresponding penalties. The
reform only modifies the
prescription period based on
medical and psychological
evidence. It is estimated that the
trauma of sexual assaults in
minors affects parts of the brain
that are used to remember past
events.
With the entry of this law,
victims of sexual violence will be
given more time to reconstruct the
facts and present the case before
the courts of justice.
According to statistics published
by the Government, complaints of
sexual abuse against minors grew
by 74 percent during the 13 years
from 2004 to 2017.
During 2018, the total number of
complaints about crimes against
minors was 8,229. Of those, 3,734
complaints were for sexual abuse;
4,034 were crimes of sexual
relations with minors and 398
crimes were such as corruption of
minors, payment for sex with
minors or dissemination of
pornography of minors.
According to the statistics of the
National Children's Hospital,
between 2006 and 2013, the daily
cases seen due to abuse against
minors increased from 9 percent to
26 percent.
In addition, the National
Institute of Statistics and Census
reported that between the years
2014 and 2015, almost 1,000 births
were the result of the rape of
girls under age 14.
The law will come active in the
next few days after it has been
published in the official
government newspaper know as La
Gaceta.
According to United Nations Youth
Strategy Secretary world
statistics:
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Approximately 430
young people aged 10 to 24 die
every day through interpersonal
violence.
- For each death, an estimated
20 to 40 youths require hospital
treatment for a violence-related
injury.
- 8 out of 10 adolescent
girls who die as a result of
violence are aged 15-19.
- Violence and
insecurity perpetrated by and
against children and young
people are caused by various
factors, including weak
educational and policing
systems, unemployment and
socio-political exclusion.
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Do you know the legal time period
for reporting sexual abuse of a
minor in your home country?
We would like to know your
thoughts on this story. Send
your comments to: news@amcostarica.com
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