Legislator Enrique Sánchez, from the Citizen Action Party, presented a bill for sexual crimes to prescribe 25 years after the victim is over 18 years old.
Sánchez said that this implies an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code. However, it does not seek the extension of prison sentences, only being on the side of the victims, who must take time to rebuild their lives, assimilate the trauma and face the complaint.
According to data presented at the press conference, based on information from the Judiciary, during 2018, 3,598 complaints were filed for sexual abuse of minors, as well as 1,000 cases of births of children of mothers under 14 years of age, which represents rape.
The initiative has the support of at least 26 legislators and it would be a reform to article 31 of that Code.
The congressman indicated that even though each person has a different time for that process, the average is that they manage to break with those situations at around 35 years of age, based on an investigation carried out in Chile, having as context a bill approved in that country.
Michael Rodríguez and Anthony Venegas were present while the bill was being announced. They reported priest Mauricio Víquez for sexual crimes that happened while they were teenagers and helped as altar servers.
However, the case prescribes in September and Víquez is out of the country. Therefore, he could go unpunished, so they both supported the initiative.
Rodríguez explained that when they decided to break the silence and seek justice, they found laws that favor abusers.
The bill has the backing of the National Institute for Women (INAMU) and the National Board of Children (PANI).