The State Duma will consider a bill that toughens responsibility for crimes of a sexual nature with respect to children under 14 years of age. In particular, the document provides for life imprisonment for such actions. For the first time an additional aggravating circumstance is established when the crime is committed by persons living together with children and adolescents. There is a separate responsibility for distributing pornography among children on the Internet and for coercing minors into acts of a sexual nature via the Internet.
Will the tightening of legislation reduce the number of crimes against minors? What other measures can be taken to protect children?
Elena Strokova, State Duma deputy, member of the State Duma committee for international affairs, deputy of the LDPR faction (co-author of the draft law):
“Russia is one of the sides to the most widely ratified international agreement in the world – the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child. It should be noted that its members are all UN member states, except the United States. According to this imperative international instrument, we strive to take all necessary legislative measures to protect the child from all forms of physical abuse, abuse or abuse, abuse or exploitation, including sexual abuse. Particularly in the Convention attention is focused on such crimes committed by parents, legal guardians or any other persons caring for the child. In this regard, it is necessary to recognize the fact that the crime is committed by persons living together with children burdening the guilt, which is stipulated in this bill. It should be noted that the law is aimed, first of all, on the protection of the child, his rights and security. Therefore, the draft law establishes such preventive measures as toughening of punishment up to life imprisonment for committing a crime against the sexual inviolability of a minor. The irrevocability of punishment of those guilty of such grave crimes should be a kind of guarantee for the protection of children. “