The Criminal Code is to be supplemented with penalties for acts related to the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, such as determining the person who has not reached the age of 16 to witness sexual acts or actions of a sexual character, participation of the child in pornographic shows, influencing or forcing the child into prostitution. Parliament gave a first reading to a draft law that fully transposes the European Union Directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography. The draft law adjusts the notion of child pornography in the legislation to the European Union norms, IPN reports.

The authors of the bill also propose amending the Code of Criminal Procedure so that victims have immediate access to legal aid services, and the number of repeated hearings is reduced. Also, the confidentiality of the information in the file will be ensured to protect the victims of abuse.

Amendments to the Law on the Rights of the Child are also proposed so that the state organizes awareness raising campaigns on children’s rights against any forms of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation or trafficking.

The document was drafted by the Ministry of Justice and is to be given the second reading by Parliament.