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Amendments classify child abuse crimes as major felonies

Members of the public are seen voicing anger at child abuse during a march in Male' city on January 24, 2020. (Sun Photo/Ahmed Awshan Ilyas)

Amendments to designate child abuse crimes as serious offenses in the Criminal Procedure Code have been passed by the Parliament today.

Currently, 11 offenses are designated as serious offenses in the Criminal Procedure Code. Child abuse crimes are not classified as serious crimes. The amendments were passed by the Parliament's Judiciary Committee last week.

59 MPs voted in favor of the amendments today.

Amendments to the Code by the state passed by the Judiciary Committee of the Parliament saw a lot of changes to the offenses designated as serious crimes. 

As serious crimes, 12 offenses are now designated in the Code. They include murder, rape, terrorism-related crimes and terrorism financing crimes as well as child abuse crimes.

Money laundering crimes as well as drug trafficking crimes are also designated as serious offenses. 

A vote on the amendments will be asked in the parliament after the Committee passed the amendments.

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