News item | 22-02-2023 | 5:30 pm
The sexual crimes bill will be amended to better protect victims of serious sexual crimes. The special statute of limitations for sexual crimes will be extended, so that rape no longer has a statute of limitations and victims can also report the crime after a long period of time has elapsed. Victims of all forms of rape can also claim compensation from the Violent Offenses Compensation Fund in the future. Today, Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius (Justice and Security) presented a memorandum of amendment to the bill to the House of Representatives. The bill also adds a criminal ban on child sex dolls. These changes are in line with proposals from victims of sexual crimes with whom Yesilgöz-Zegerius has had conversations and with requests from various parties in the House of Representatives.
“Sexual violence and transgressive behavior are unacceptable and must be stopped. That requires a broad social offensive. Criminal law is an indispensable capstone in this broad approach. With an additional amendment to the law, victims of sexual violence will be better protected. I think it is important that victims are given ample time to report the crime. Time pressure should not play a role there.”
According to Minister Yesilgöz-Zegerius.
Limitation period
It can take a long time for victims of sexual violence to come forward and feel able to report the crime. Even after that time has elapsed, society and the victim may still have a strong need to prosecute and punish the perpetrator. This has been put forward by various parties in the House of Representatives. That is why the special statute of limitations for sexual crimes will be extended, so that guilt and intentional rape will no longer be time-barred. For serious sexual crimes against children, an amended statute of limitations had already been included in the bill, so that these do not become time-barred either.
Damage fund
Rape, both guilt rape and intentional rape, can have long-lasting and far-reaching consequences for victims. The Violent Offenses Compensation Fund is intended, in the most harrowing cases, to provide a low-threshold entrance to a financial compensation, which is an acknowledgment of the suffering inflicted on a victim. To make it possible for all victims of rape to qualify for such compensation, guilt rape will be brought under the scope of the Violent Offenses Compensation Fund Act.
Criminal prohibition of child sex dolls
Possession and distribution of child sex dolls are punishable by law. These sex attributes reflect children as sexual lust objects and may give the impression that it is normal to engage in sexual acts with children. This while the sexualization of children must be prevented. The criminalization ensures that child sex dolls can be seized and destroyed and that criminal action can be taken against perpetrators.
Sexual Offenses Bill
The Sexual Offenses Bill was submitted to the House of Representatives in October last year. This bill modernizes the criminal legislation for sexually transgressive behavior that is outdated and falls short in parts. The legislation is therefore being fundamentally revised. For example, various types of offenses such as assault and rape are being introduced, which are more likely to constitute criminal behaviour. Sexual contact with someone you know or should have suspected that the other person did not want to be punished as a form of assault or rape. Sexual harassment in public (offline and online) will also become a criminal offence.
The House of Representatives has asked written questions about this bill. The answers to these questions will be presented to the House of Representatives today. The next step in the legislative process is the oral hearing of the bill by the House of Representatives. The aim is for the new law to take effect in 2024. Until then, it is important that careful preparations take place with all parties involved for effective implementation. The implementation of the law is being prepared together with the organizations involved, such as the police, the Public Prosecution Service, victim support and employees in the criminal justice chain.