Is it true that UN experts recommended legalizing pedophilia?

In April 2023, excerpts from the UN report appeared in the media, which allegedly proposed not to punish adults for sex with minors. We decided to check if this is really so.

In social networks, a report of lawyers under the auspices of the UN was often called the "legalization of pedophilia." Such a wording was found in Telegram, Livejournal And "Zen", As well as in RIA Fan. "News»Wrote more carefully - about" decriminalization of sexual activity of all types. " Most media and blogs provide quotes from the report: in particular, “sexual behavior by mutual agreement, regardless of the type of sexual activity, gender, sexual orientation, gender or marital status, cannot be criminally punishable”. In another cited fragment It is saidthat "law enforcement should not be associated with the gender/gender of the participants or the age of consent to marriage."

A report widely discussed in the media and social networks I went out March 8, 2023, to International Women's Day. A non -governmental International Commission of Lawyers (Icj) together with Unaids (United UN program for HIV/AIDS) and The Office of the Supreme Commissioner of the UN Human Rights. The document is called “Principles of March 8”, in the subtitle it is stated that we are talking about the approach of human rights to a number of sensitive issues: sexual relations, drug use, HIV infection, and abortion.

This report is advisory in nature and draws attention to the existing shortcomings of law enforcement. In the preface to the main text set out Basic problems: first of all, the stigmatization of certain groups and an imbalance in criminal law on a number of issues.

The 16th paragraph “Principles of March 8” caused the greatest outrage. It is called "sexual behavior by mutual agreement." In this section there is the following phrase: “Any established minimum age of consent to sex should be applied into a non -discriminatory manner. Law enforcement should not be associated with the gender/gender of the participants [sexual intercourse] or the age of consent to marry. ” In the media and blogs, this was interpreted as legalized pedophilia and the abolition of the minimum age of consent to sex.

April 20, the International Commission of Lawyers published Special statement, which explained the position of the organization. This release indicates: “The principles of March 8 do not call for the decriminalization of sex with children, or to cancel the minimum age of consent to sex. ISJ emphasizes that, in accordance with international law, the state has a clear obligation to protect children from all forms of abuse, such as sexual abuse of children, including by criminalization of such behavior. ”

The formulation of the minimum age of consent to sex, which was not too understandable to a wide range of readers, had to explain to lawyers who did not participate in the work on the report. Agency Associated Press Erin Murphy turned to the professor of New York University for a commentary. She explained that we are talking about the contradiction existing in a number of countries between two legislative norms: the minimum age of consent to sex and the minimum age of marriage. “The report says: if you set the minimum age of consent, you should not allow people to evade it, marrying,” says Erin Murphy. She also added that in some US states there is no minimum age for marriage, which can serve as a legal loophole in the laws on the age of consent.

Thus, in the report It is said Absolutely different: illegitimate relations are often considered obviously more criminal than the same sex with minors, but in marriage. In addition, everything in the same document indicates that the minimum age of entry into marriage should not depend on the sexual. In many countries, this age differs For boys and girls, for the latter it is more often lower. In Russia, the minimum age of marriage varies depending on the region. IN Moscow region, for example, “under special circumstances” you can marry from the age of 14, while sexual relations with a person who has not reached 16 years, punished In all severity of the law. Lawyers in the report talked about such cases.

As a result, we can conclude that the report made under the auspices of the UN is not aimed at legalizing pedophilia, but at putting in order of law enforcement practice, which, according to lawyers, must comply with the principles of protecting human rights and the spirit of the law.

Photo on the cover: UN

Not true

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

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2. Is it true that in Spain the minister offered to legitimize pedophilia?
3. Is it true that the Musa prosecutor issued a warrant warrant in exchange for the liberation of his pedophile brother?