Law on chemical castration of pedophiles will take effect on July 1

The MPs Tuesday passed in final reading a bill that provides for the chemical castration of pedophiles. The law will come into force on July 1. During the debates, some of the MPs pleaded for surgical castration as the chemical one is a too mild penalty, Info-Prim Neo reports. Bill author, Liberal MP Valeriu Munteanu said that the number of sexual offenses against underage persons increases every year, but the Penal Code does not impose harsh penalties. As a result, many of the related criminal cases are closed. In the last five years, 15 persons have been convicted for repeating sex offenses against minors. “Regretfully, Moldova is now a more special tourist attraction for pedophiles from European states and the U.S. Our children become accessible targets for the morbid desires of these transnational monsters. This law will definitely discourage them and keep them away,” said the bill author. According to the Liberal-Democratic MP Gennady Ciobanu, chemical castration is done only for the period when the offender is behind bars. Afterward, the treatment does not have an effect. “I’m for this bill, but the punishment for sex crimes should be toughened up,” he stated. “Is there only chemical castration? Let’s suggest other methods to make sure that these crimes will be indeed penalized,” said Speaker Marian Lupu. In chemical castration, a special medicine is administrated to the person, which is supposed to irreversibly inhibit his libido. The chemical castration is done under court decision by medical institutions in concert with the penitentiaries.