According to the National Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse (CENEPAC), more than 400 cases of child sexual abuse are identified each year in the country. This figure has remained stable over the past ten years, indicating a lack of detection and the need to strengthen prevention measures.
Daniela Simboteanu, founder and chairperson of CENEPAC, noted the need to amend Article 60 of the Criminal Code so that the statute of limitations does not apply to sexual abuse crimes.
“There are many cases where there is a prolongation of cases for this very reason: various reasons are found for postponing cases in court, very sophisticated techniques are used by suspected aggressors and their lawyers, and cases are heard in extremely long periods of time. Our only conclusion as to why this happens is the desire to wait until the statute of limitations expires so that the aggressor has no risk of conviction,” Symboteanu concluded at the hearings of the Parliamentary Commission for Social Protection, Health and Family Affairs.
Overall, the expert believes it is necessary to strengthen the protection of child victims of sexual abuse. In the current legislation, these measures are insufficient. She cited the specific case of the alleged aggressor Boris Mesheshteshug.
Recall, a criminal investigation was opened against anesthesiologist-resuscitator Boris Mesheshteshug on charges of rape, attempted rape and committing lewd acts of a sexual nature against minors. The case allegedly took place in 2010-2011 and the trial was suspended in 2021.
