They propose increasing penalties for sexual abuse and rape of people with disabilities and older adults

Mexico.- Representative Mónica Herrera Villavicencio (Morena) promotes an initiative that adds section VI to article 266 Bis of the Federal Penal Code, to increase penalties by up to half compared to those currently established, when the crime of sexual abuse is committed. and rape “against a person with a disability or belonging to the elderly group.”

The proposal, submitted to the Justice Commission for an opinion and to the Commission for Attention to Vulnerable Groups for an opinion, specifies that the increase in the penalty seeks to reduce the rates of this crime and guarantee a life free of violence, especially for those who belong to vulnerable groups. .

Currently, the Federal Penal Code establishes that a person who commits sexual abuse will be sentenced to six to 10 years in prison and up to 200 days of fine, and whoever commits the crime of rape will be punished with eight to 30 years. of prison. With this reform, sentences for both crimes would increase by up to half.

In her statement of reasons, the legislator states that, according to figures from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System, with data from August 2023, 14,016 crimes against sexual freedom and safety have been registered, against 22,000. that were committed in 2022.

Likewise, the 2022 National Census of State Justice Delivery indicates that infractions against sexual freedom and safety represent 22.34 percent of those committed in the common jurisdiction.

He points out that these crimes are recorded daily and are an expression of a society that is decadent in values ​​and are a social alarm that tells us that sexual violence is a public health problem in our country.

The World Health Organization defines sexual violence as the intentional use of physical force or power, actually or threatened, against oneself, another person or a group, causing injury, death, psychological harm, mental health of development or deprivation.

Representative Herrera Villavicencio mentions that this type of violence encompasses acts ranging from verbal harassment to forced penetration, as well as a variety of types of coercion such as social pressure and intimidation by physical force, against which an adult elderly or one with a disability do not have the capacity to confront or prevent.

It adds that data indicates that survivors of sexual violence may suffer behavioral, social and mental health consequences; “They are vulnerable to sexual and reproductive health consequences, such as unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.”

It indicates that the General Law on Women's Access to a Life Free of Violence, in its article 3, mentions that it is the obligation of the Federation and its powers, the states and municipalities to guarantee the prevention, care, sanction and eradication of all types of violence against women.

In this sense, the legislator states that the Legislative Branch would assume its responsibility as part of the State's efforts to guarantee a life free of violence, not only for women, but for the entire population, especially those who belong to vulnerable groups. of people with disabilities and the elderly.

With information from the Chamber of Deputies

Number of views 8