Louisiana, a state in the United States, is on the verge of enacting a controversial new law that would allow judges to order surgical castration for individuals convicted of sex crimes against young children.

On Monday (June 3), Louisiana's GOP-controlled Legislature passed a bill that empowers judges to sentence paedophiles preying on children under 13 to surgical castration.&nbsp;

As per CBS News, the bill now awaits the signature of Republican Governor Jeff Landry. If signed, Louisiana would be the first state to implement such a severe punishment.

<h2>Castration in the US</h2>

In America, while states like Alabama, California, Florida, and Texas permit chemical castration, none currently mandate surgical castration as a judicial sentence, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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Louisiana also has provisions for chemical castration that have been in place for over 16 years, but have rarely been used.

<h2>Chemical vs Surgical castration</h2>

Chemical castration involves medications that lower testosterone levels to diminish sexual urges, whereas surgical castration is a much more invasive procedure.&nbsp;

"This is a consequence," stated Republican state Sen. Valarie Hodges during an April committee hearing. "It's a step over and beyond just going to jail and getting out."&nbsp;

Although the punishment is severe, the bill saw strong support in both GOP-dominated chambers. It did have some opposition coming from Democrats.&nbsp;

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Notably, the bill was authored by a Democrat — State Sen. Regina Barrow, who views it as an extra step in punishing horrific crimes against children.

"We are talking about babies who are being violated by somebody," said Barrow during an April committee meeting, adding, "That is inexcusable."

Currently, over 2,200 individuals are imprisoned in Louisiana for sex crimes against children under 13. Nevertheless, if this bill becomes law, it would only apply to offences committed on or after August 1, 2024.&nbsp;

The punishment would be at the discretion of judges and not automatically imposed. While castration is typically associated with men, it could also apply to women, said Barrow.

Failure to comply with an order for surgical castration could result in an additional three to five years of imprisonment. A medical expert must "determine whether that offender is an appropriate candidate" for the procedure before it is carried out.

(With inputs from agencies)

Louisiana, a state in the United States, is on the verge of enacting a controversial new law that would allow judges to order surgical castration for individuals convicted of sex crimes against young children.

Louisiana, a state in the United States, is on the verge of enacting a controversial new law that would allow judges to order surgical castration for individuals convicted of sex crimes against young children. On Monday (June 3), Louisiana's GOP-controlled Legislature passed a bill that empowers judges to sentence paedophiles preying on children under 13 to surgical castration. As per CBS News, the bill now awaits the signature of Republican Governor Jeff Landry. If signed, Louisiana would be the first state to implement such a severe punishment. Castration in the US In America, while states like Alabama, California, Florida, and Texas permit chemical castration, none currently mandate surgical castration as a judicial sentence, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Also read | Fatherhood linked to poorer heart health, young fathers at higher risk: Study Louisiana also has provisions for chemical castration that have been in place for over 16 years, but have rarely been used. Chemical vs Surgical castration Chemical castration involves medications that lower testosterone levels to diminish sexual urges, whereas surgical castration is a much more invasive procedure. "This is a consequence," stated Republican state Sen. Valarie Hodges during an April committee hearing. "It's a step over and beyond just going to jail and getting out." Although the punishment is severe, the bill saw strong support in both GOP-dominated chambers. It did have some opposition coming from Democrats. Also read | Study finds new male birth control gel safe and effective; reveal promising trial results Notably, the bill was authored by a Democrat — State Sen. Regina Barrow, who views it as an extra step in punishing horrific crimes against children. "We are talking about babies who are being violated by somebody," said Barrow during an April committee meeting, adding, "That is inexcusable." Currently, over 2,200 individuals are imprisoned in Louisiana for sex crimes against children under 13. Nevertheless, if this bill becomes law, it would only apply to offences committed on or after August 1, 2024. The punishment would be at the discretion of judges and not automatically imposed. While castration is typically associated with men, it could also apply to women, said Barrow. Failure to comply with an order for surgical castration could result in an additional three to five years of imprisonment. A medical expert must "determine whether that offender is an appropriate candidate" for the procedure before it is carried out. (With inputs from agencies)

Louisiana to become first US state to punish paedophiles with surgical castration

A new study claims that Instagram algorithms are promoting pedophilic content. The study has discovered hashtags that are helping pedophiles discover accounts selling child-sex material. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Are Instagram algorithms promoting pedophilic content?

Spanish police today arrested seventeen people, mostly teenage boys for sharing ''extremely violent'' images of child pornography on social networking application Whatsapp.

According to the police, the investigation took two years and spanned three continents.

Spain's national police have detained 33 people in raids across 11 countries.

Besides 17 people who were arrested in Spain, nine more are currently being held for investigation, with a total of 14 teenage boys involved.

They were arrested for storing and sharing pornographic files, which in some cases were "extremely serious", Casas said.

After being tipped off via emails, police discovered "a Whatsapp group formed by minors, in which several participants had normalised the existence of child pornography and the sexual abuse of other minors".

Casas indicated some involved the graphic abuse and rape of very young children, including "babies of just a few months up to children aged 11 or 12".

Besides sharing files, the perpetrators had produced ''stickers'', which are small, digital images akin to emojis that can be readily pushed online. These stickers showed ''very young children being abused''.

In Spain, most arrested were minors, with the youngest just 15, police spokesman Eduardo Casas told AFP.

20 people were arrested in Europe, 17 in Spain, and three others in Italy, France and the United Kingdom.

A further 10 were arrested in Latin America, four in Ecuador, two in Uruguay, two in Peru and two in Costa Rica. Another three were picked up in India, Pakistan and Syria.

(With inputs from AFP)

Spanish police today arrested seventeen people, mostly teenage boys for sharing ''extremely violent'' images of child pornography on social networking application Whatsapp.

Spanish police today arrested seventeen people, mostly teenage boys for sharing ''extremely violent'' images of child pornography on social networking application Whatsapp. According to the police, the investigation took two years and spanned three continents. Spain's national police have detained 33 people in raids across 11 countries. Besides 17 people who were arrested in Spain, nine more are currently being held for investigation, with a total of 14 teenage boys involved. They were arrested for storing and sharing pornographic files, which in some cases were "extremely serious", Casas said. After being tipped off via emails, police discovered "a Whatsapp group formed by minors, in which several participants had normalised the existence of child pornography and the sexual abuse of other minors". Casas indicated some involved the graphic abuse and rape of very young children, including "babies of just a few months up to children aged 11 or 12". Besides sharing files, the perpetrators had produced ''stickers'', which are small, digital images akin to emojis that can be readily pushed online. These stickers showed ''very young children being abused''. In Spain, most arrested were minors, with the youngest just 15, police spokesman Eduardo Casas told AFP. 20 people were arrested in Europe, 17 in Spain, and three others in Italy, France and the United Kingdom. A further 10 were arrested in Latin America, four in Ecuador, two in Uruguay, two in Peru and two in Costa Rica. Another three were picked up in India, Pakistan and Syria. (With inputs from AFP)

Many arrested worldwide as Spain police smash global pedophile ring

The US state of West Virginia on Tuesday sued a Catholic diocese and a bishop over allegations they knowingly employed paedophiles in schools.

State attorney general Patrick Morrisey announced he had filed suit against the diocese of Wheeling/Charleston -- located over 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Washington -- and against its former bishop Michael Bransfield.

Bransfield was himself dismissed in September following allegations of sexual harassment against adults. He had been bishop since 2005.

Now, he and the diocese face a consumer protection suit.

"The bishops and diocese knew the diocese employed priests who had been credibly accused of sexually abusing children in schools and camps and intentionally failed to warn the purchasers of educational and recreational services, parents," the suit claims.

According to the complaint, one priest confessed to assaulting a student at a high school in the 1980s, and was laid off before returning to a job at a primary school in the diocese between 1998 and 2001.

Another disclosed while applying for a job in 2002 that he had been accused of assaulting a minor in 1979. Nevertheless, he went on to work at a primary school in the diocese for four years.

Morrisey also accused the diocese of lying on its website, which claimed that school employees were subject to background checks. A man convicted of rape in Washington was hired to teach in a diocese high school, with his contract terminated in 2013, the complaint said.

The American Catholic Church was shaken last year by revelations of sexual abuse by some 300 priests over decades in Pennsylvania.

In October, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, who was suspected of covering up the scandal.

The US state of West Virginia on Tuesday sued a Catholic diocese and a bishop over allegations they knowingly employed paedophiles in schools. State attorney general Patrick Morrisey announced he had filed suit against the diocese of Wheeling/Charleston -- located over 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Washington -- and against its former bishop Michael Bransfield.

The US state of West Virginia on Tuesday sued a Catholic diocese and a bishop over allegations they knowingly employed paedophiles in schools. State attorney general Patrick Morrisey announced he had filed suit against the diocese of Wheeling/Charleston -- located over 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Washington -- and against its former bishop Michael Bransfield. Bransfield was himself dismissed in September following allegations of sexual harassment against adults. He had been bishop since 2005. Now, he and the diocese face a consumer protection suit. "The bishops and diocese knew the diocese employed priests who had been credibly accused of sexually abusing children in schools and camps and intentionally failed to warn the purchasers of educational and recreational services, parents," the suit claims. According to the complaint, one priest confessed to assaulting a student at a high school in the 1980s, and was laid off before returning to a job at a primary school in the diocese between 1998 and 2001. Another disclosed while applying for a job in 2002 that he had been accused of assaulting a minor in 1979. Nevertheless, he went on to work at a primary school in the diocese for four years. Morrisey also accused the diocese of lying on its website, which claimed that school employees were subject to background checks. A man convicted of rape in Washington was hired to teach in a diocese high school, with his contract terminated in 2013, the complaint said. The American Catholic Church was shaken last year by revelations of sexual abuse by some 300 priests over decades in Pennsylvania. In October, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, who was suspected of covering up the scandal.

US diocese, bishop sued over employing known pedophiles

Asserting that there can be &quot;no compromise&quot; when it comes to tackling sex crimes, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has defended the introduction of chemical castration for pedophiles in an interview published today.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;Our constitution respects human rights, but when it comes to sexual crimes there is no compromise,&quot; he told BBC, adding that the government &quot;will hand out the maximum penalty&quot; for such crimes.

&nbsp;

A series of tough punishments for child sex offenders were introduced in May by Widodo through an emergency decree, including chemical castration and the death penalty, AFP reported. The decision followed an outcry over the fatal gang-rape of a schoolgirl.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Last week, the Parliament voted to put the new regulations permanently on the statute book.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;In my opinion... chemical castration, if we enforce it consistently, will reduce sex crimes and wipe them out over time,&quot; &nbsp;he has been quoted as saying in the interview.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It&#39;s pertinent to mention that chemical castration involves using drugs to reduce libido and sex drive.

&nbsp;

According to AFP, Indonesia is among a small group of places worldwide which use the measure, including Poland and some states in the USA. South Korea became the first Asian country to legalise the treatment in 2011.&nbsp;

 
(WION with inputs from AFP)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Last week, the Parliament voted to put the new regulations permanently on the statute book

Asserting that there can be "no compromise" when it comes to tackling sex crimes, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has defended the introduction of chemical castration for pedophiles in an interview published today. "Our constitution respects human rights, but when it comes to sexual crimes there is no compromise," he told BBC, adding that the government "will hand out the maximum penalty" for such crimes. A series of tough punishments for child sex offenders were introduced in May by Widodo through an emergency decree, including chemical castration and the death penalty, AFP reported. The decision followed an outcry over the fatal gang-rape of a schoolgirl. Last week, the Parliament voted to put the new regulations permanently on the statute book. "In my opinion... chemical castration, if we enforce it consistently, will reduce sex crimes and wipe them out over time," he has been quoted as saying in the interview. It's pertinent to mention that chemical castration involves using drugs to reduce libido and sex drive. According to AFP, Indonesia is among a small group of places worldwide which use the measure, including Poland and some states in the USA. South Korea became the first Asian country to legalise the treatment in 2011. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Indonesia President defends 'chemical castration' of paedophiles

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