The limitation periods in cases of sexual violence against minors will be extended within the European Union, after an agreement reached on Monday June 22 between MEPs and Member States on a reform which, however, excludes imprescriptibility.
Currently, limitation periods – the length of time beyond which legal action is no longer admissible – can vary considerably from one European state to another. MEPs were initially in favor of their outright abolition (as some countries have done), which would have made these offenses or crimes imprescriptible.
But member states negotiated a compromise consisting of extending them, up to 32 years after the victim reaches the age of majority, for cases of rape or prostitution of minors. For other offenses or crimes, the deadlines will be extended to 10 or 15 years, the European Parliament specified in a press release.
“This will ensure that victims of sexual violence have the effective possibility of taking legal action”, while it sometimes takes decades for victims to dare to file a complaint, underlined a press release from the Council of the EU, the body which represents member states.
New acts made criminal offenses
Existing European regulations only established the principle of a “sufficiently long period” before cases become time-barred.
The compromise reached on Monday also criminalizes new acts, such as “live broadcasting of sexual violence against minors and sexual blackmail”, that is to say the act of threatening children with the distribution of child pornography. Measures also target the solicitation of minors for sexual purposes (or “grooming”).
Another measure which aims to take into account technological developments, possessing or disseminating artificial intelligence systems designed or adapted to produce child pornography will be punishable by a sentence of up to two years in prison.
“Children have the right to protection adapted to the world in which they live,” reacted the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Magnus Brunner, welcoming this agreement which will now have to be formally approved by the 27 and by Parliament.
