Azerbaijan toughens punishment for sexual abuse of children and adolescents

Azerbaijan is tightening punishment for sexual violence or the threat of its use against children and adolescents, Report informs.

In this regard, amendments are proposed to Article 150 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (violent acts of a sexual nature).

Under the amendment, pedophilia or other acts of a sexual nature with the use of violence or with the threat of its use against the victim or other persons, or taking advantage of the helpless state of the victim, are punishable by imprisonment for a term of four to eight years. The current version of the article provides for a sentence of three to five years.

Another amendment provides for the introduction of punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 10 to 15 years for pedophilia or other acts of a sexual nature with the use of violence or with the threat of its use against the victim or other persons, or using the victim’s helpless state, if these acts resulted in infection of the victim with HIV or other serious consequences.