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[MADRID, 24 July 2009] – A proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years in Spain was today denounced by national organisation Judges for Democracy. The group said the proposal, which comes in the wake of two gang rapes involving minors, marked a move away from the educational principles which must be paramount in interventions with minors. The group highlighted that no law should be reformed in moments of social turmoil and media furore and that possible modifications should be considered “from a perspective of calm and deep reflection.” In this sense, it warned against using serious incidents such as the recent events which occurred in Córdoba and Huelva, to begin a process of legislative reform simply to benefit political parties in the short term but which would have no effect in preventing similar acts. They recalled that the law currently in force was passed with “wide” social and political consensus, to guarantee the principles set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Furthermore, they stated that greater sanctions “do not lead to a reduction in the crime rate among minors” and warned that such an approach “could complicate the process of social reintegration and risk increasing crime rates”... The group emphasised that measures taken with minors “must focus on preventing future criminal behaviour. Re-education is a factor which can contribute to preventing these kinds of incidents.” Toughening up laws can have a symbolic effect in moments of social turmoil but it does not have any effect on crime reduction”. According to Judges for Democracy, violence committed by the youngest members of society is a “reflection of troubled personal and social relationships” and a violent society “can contribute to these kinds of incidents.”... Further information
Owner: Summarised in English from EP Social - Europa PressAssociation: EP Social - Europa Press