Turkey proposes new draft law on child sexual abuse

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA

The government submitted a new draft law in the parliament on Monday to regulate sexual abuse crimes against children, increasing jail terms for such offenses to 40 years.

According to the draft law, the upper limit of all sexual abuse crimes against children will be from 20 years to 40 years. Moreover, punishment for sexual crime will be increased from 30 years to 40 years if the child is under 12.

It proposed that the courts should give life sentences to those who committed sexual abuse against children under 12 using force and threats with weapons.

The draft law, which will be debated in the parliament's justice committee this week, would also enable courts to order chemical castration of such convicts.

Those who commit such crimes and get sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment, would be able to obtain probation only after 50 years. Similarly, those who commit such crimes and get life imprisonment, they would be able to obtain probation after 40 years. In both cases, the convicts would need to demonstrate good behavior during their time in prison.

In any case, convicts would never be allowed to work near children.

The Ministry of Health will also establish special centers for the abused children, the draft law added.