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Federal Council in Berlin
Photo: Jean MW / imago images / Future Image
Child abuse will in future be considered a crime in Germany and can therefore be punished much more severely.
On Friday, the Federal Council in Berlin approved a corresponding legislative decision by the Bundestag.
Anyone who sexually abuses children or procures, distributes or owns pictures and films with the corresponding content will in principle be punished in future with a minimum sentence of one year in prison.
The limitation period for explicit sexual images of children has also been increased.
It does not begin until the end of the 30th year of life for those affected.
The reasons for the tightening were, for example, the cases of abuse in Staufen, Bergisch-Gladbach, Lügde and Münster.
The project is also justified by the fact that social networks and online games with a chat function, for example, have increased the risk potential for children both in the virtual and in the real world, as stated in the draft law.
The so-called law to combat sexual violence against children will come into full force on January 1, 2022.
mxw / dpa