Mexico lawmakers approve proposal to increase prison sentences for femicide, minor abuse News
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Mexico lawmakers approve proposal to increase prison sentences for femicide, minor abuse

Mexico’s lower house of Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, on Tuesday approved a proposal to amend the Federal Criminal Code and increase punishments for the crimes of femicide and sexual abuse of minors.

The Chamber of Deputies proposal would increase the maximum prison sentence for femicide from 60 years to 65 years, and it would increase the minimum sentence from 40 years to 45 years. It would also tighten the penalties for sexual abuse of minors by increasing prison sentences to between 10 and 18 years, rather than the current penalty of between six and 13 years.

The proposal passed with a vote of 415 in favor and only one in opposition.

This action follows concerns about gender violence and femicide in Mexico, especially after the body of a girl was discovered over the weekend. This discovery came only days after a young woman was murdered.

The Chamber of Deputies sent the proposal to the Senate, where it will be reviewed.

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