After the widely discussed film by the Sekielski brothers, the United Right camp decided to tighten penalties for pedophilic offenses. The Sejm vote on the bill took place on Thursday, May 16.
As the rp.pl website reports, only two female MPs from the Civic Platform took part in the vote. (Both supported the amendment to the regulations).
Eleven members of the Polish People’s Party–European Democrats Union parliamentary group also voted in favor (two members of the group abstained). Kukiz’15 and Confederation MPs also supported harsher penalties.
What changes, among others, will be introduced?
- a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for a person found guilty of raping a child; in some cases, perpetrators of pedophilic offenses will face mandatory life imprisonment
- the most serious pedophilic crimes will not be subject to a statute of limitations. (Those guilty of pedophilic offenses will also not be eligible for suspended sentences).
What about raising the so-called age of consent?
The amendment does not, however, raise the so-called age of consent—sexual relations with persons under 15 will still be considered pedophilia.
The amendment will now go to the Senate.
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