January 27th, 2016 (ICR News) A bill that seeks to toughen penalties for the sexual exploitation of minors advanced to Costa Rica’s Legislature on Tuesday.
The reform seeks a penalty of 3 to 8 years in prison for those who engage in the corruption or coercion of a minor or those with mental disabilities in order to obtain sexual access with “perverse, pornographic or obscene purposes.”
Examples of corruption or coercion include providing alcohol or drugs in order to gain sexual consent, taking advantage of a minor who may be vulnerable due to poverty, and many other circumstances.
The bill also seeks a penalty of 4 to 10 years in prison for those who use social networks such as Facebook to seek sexual encounters with minors.
The bill also seeks 50 to 100 days in jail, and/or community service for parents or guardians who engage in corporal punishment or “humiliating treatment” as a form of discipline of a minor.