Parliament enacts stricter punishment for paedophiles

Parliament on Tuesday passed a proposal to introduce stricter punishment for sex crimes against children below the age of 12.

Under the amended penal code,

offenders will face 5-15 years imprisonment if their target was a family member or a minor under their care or supervision.

This sentence also applies if the offender controlled or influenced a situation, irrespective of whether the act was committed by mutual consent.

Offenders who use physical force or take advantage of the a minor’s vulnerable situation face imprisonment of 5-20 years.

The latter punishment also applies if the crime was committed in a group.

The legislation was proposed by ruling Fidesz lawmakers Gabriella Selmeczi, Róbert Répássy and László Horváth, as well as opposition Socialist MP Gergely Bárándy.

The amendment replaces the earlier law under which sexual offences against minors were punishable by 5-15 years if the crime was committed by coercion, while the term was 5-10 years in case of mutual consent.

featured image: illustration

Source: MTI