Penal Code Amendment 2017

Brief Description

The amended Penal Code of 2017 included many achievements including measures to protect women from violence. Key changes include:
- Article 308 was repealed to prevent perpetrator impunity; 
- Article 98 was amended so that the perpetrator does not benefit from mitigating circumstances in case the crime is committed against a girl under the influence of anger; 
- If the court takes into consideration mitigating circumstances pursuant to Article 99, it may not have to commute to the minimum penalty; 
- Article 306 punishes sexual harassment in all its forms;

Furthermore, the new amendments to the Penal Code also provide for:
- Equality of the father and the mother in terms of authority and medical care when surgical operations and medical treatments are performed; 
- Protection of persons with disabilities of both genders; and 
- Tougher penalties for crimes against persons with disabilities, women and children. The Code considers disability an aggravating circumstance in crimes in order to protect women and girls from violence (abuse, assault, abduction, neglect, abandonment and deprivation of liberty).