CHILE
Big Pond News (Australia)
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Chilean authorities will investigate 61 schools in the country’s capital for possible child sex abuse, the attorney general has announced, in the latest government step to address a sharp rise in reports of such crimes.
Attorney-General Sabas Chahuan said on Friday his office will look at 49 schools in eastern Santiago and 12 on city’s west side. Several teachers have recently been accused of sexually molesting children at schools in affluent neighbourhoods in the eastern part of Santiago. …
Pinera also urged lawmakers to review and fast-track about 100 bills before Congress that could protect children against sexual abuse. Under new measures, young sex abuse victims will need only to provide a video-recorded statement once so they can avoid the stress of repeatedly having to retell their painful episodes.
The president said the sex offender database would be fully functioning from August.
Chile is one of South America’s most strongly conservative nations in social matters. The Roman Catholic Church retains a firm influence in society, although in recent years it has been hit by scandals in which priests have been accused of molesting children.
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