Amnesty International Moldova condemned the adoption of amendments that legalize the forced chemical castration of pedophiles. It called on the Human Rights Center and the Ministry of Justice to examine the situation and challenge the given changes, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a press statement, Amnesty International Moldova says that by adopting these amendments, the lawmakers undermined the right not to be tortured or maltreated. The international human rights agreements ban torture and inhuman or degrading treatment and Moldova’s supreme law subscribes to this. The utilization of forced medical procedures is equal to the use of inhuman treatment. “We want to be understood correctly. Any crime must be punished in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is clear that public opinion is for toughening up the punishment for the rape of juveniles. However, we must combat the offenses by legal and appropriate instruments,” said the executive director of Amnesty International Moldova, Cristina Pereteatcu. The MPs on March 6 passed in final reading a bill that provides for the chemical castration of pedophiles. The law will come into force on July 1. In chemical castration, a special medicine is administrated to the offender to inhibit his libido.