Moldova's law on chemical castration of pedophiles turns controversial
A new legislation becomes controversial in Moldova after it has been already voted without prior public debate. The lawmakers voted yesterday a bill which is designed to chemically castrate the pedophiles.
The initiative came from the Liberal Party’s Valeriu Munteanu. According to him, there is a tendency of spreading the number of cases of sexual assaults on minors.
“In the past years, unfortunately, the Republic of Moldova has become a touristic destination for pedophiles from the European countries, as well as from the United States, our children becoming forthcoming aims for them. Enacting this bill will keep them away from further sexual assaults,” said Valeriu Munteanu.
The new law will be enacted as of June 1, 2012 and pedophiles will be chemically castrated three months prior to their dismission from jail.
“It is a very rough measure; there should be additional punishments. The general public opinion asks for punishment for these persons, but there are human rights which should outweigh. It is mostly a political action, without a thorough analysis of the issue. The impact of this law will not be the one expected,” Ion Guzun, expert at Judicial Resources Center told Moldova.ORG.
"This punishment comes against Article 3 from Convention, which implies the right of not being tortured. The problem is more serious than it seems. I think that this bill is a way to divert the public opinion's attention from the real issues the country deals with," said Veaceslav Turcanu, the head of International Executive Committe of Human Rights Embassy.
Amnesty International Moldova has already expressed their anger at the new law, condemning the enactment of such a regulation.
“The international agreements regarding the human right prohibit expressly the torture and inhuman treatments, fact followed by the Supreme Law of the Republic of Moldova. It is obvious that the enactment of forced medical procedures is equal to an inhuman treatment,” according to Amnesty International.
Chemical castration is made by administering of anti-hormone medication in order to lower the level of testosterone. According to studies, the main effect is the reduction libido, potency and sperm production. It also weakens any deviant behavior.
According to Ion Dumbraveanu, doctor at Republican Hospital from Chisinau, the drug should be injected every three months.
“From a medical perspective, if it is not administered once in three months, the effect is null,” said Mr. Dumbraveanu in a TV show.
Currently the chemical castration is being done in the American states of California and Florida, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Poland and Czech Republic.
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