President Luis Lacalle Pou He referred to the bill that he sent to Parliament and that proposes modifications in the Gender Law current in Uruguay: “We try to make a law that is a little more balanced without losing focus,” he justified.
The government seeks to change law 19,580 of Gender-based violence against women through a project that he sent to Parliament. The debates on the subject have been going on for weeks, and one of the triggers was the confirmation that the complaint of abuse against the presidential candidate of the Broad Front, Yamandú Orsi, turned out to be false.
For this reason, one of the modifications aims to penalize false complaints regarding gender violence. “We try to make a law a little more balanced without losing focus, without distorting the law,” he stated. Lacalle Pou about. The president said that the changes are “in regards to evidence, in regards to expertise, in regards to false complaints.”
“The truth is that if you read the four articles that we modified, you will see that it is common sense”, He maintained, adding that “it does not distort the law and it is a bill that, from my point of view, brings more guarantees, that is the idea.”
What modifications does the new project establish?
The text of the bill sent to Parliament establishes four modifications to Law 19,580, with the aim of providing better justice to those involved in cases of gender violence, as justified by the government, improving aspects that were insufficient or ineffective.
The first modification maintains that in case of conflict or doubt, the interpretation most favorable to women in situations of gender violence, but this should not weaken the guarantees and assessment of the evidence. In that sense, another article indicates that the evidence Offered by both parties must be evaluated in accordance with the principle of sound criticism, respecting the right of defense.
The third article indicates that complaints that are carried out knowingly of a crime that has not been committed or that its signs are simulated, the crime of slander and simulation of crime.
Finally, the last article indicates that after the conviction is obtained, in addition to the sentence, the victim may claim, through the corresponding procedural means, a property repair for damages. If approved, it would modify the current law, which establishes in express text a financial reparation for the victim for an amount equivalent to twelve monthly income of the convicted person, or failing that twelve minimum wages, without prejudice to following the corresponding procedural route to obtain comprehensive repair of damage.
The coalition aligns itself behind the amendment project
In line with the official justifications from the Executive power, In the government coalition, the bill that modifies the current law is viewed favorably. Gender Law; although there are some objections, mainly with the way in which the text was presented, without prior notice and in a political context tense due to the scandal that hits the National Party.
In it Independent Party, the opposite voice is represented by Monica Bottero, director of National Institute of women. Their main point of disagreement is the possibility of penalties for those who make false complaints, in the event that this provision leads to many people not being encouraged to resort to justice in cases of gender violence.
On the other hand, from the National Party, the Colorado Party and Town meeting —a sector from which they also demanded modifications— are more aligned with the proposal.
Cosse questioned the changes in the midst of an “institutional scandal”
The pre-candidate of Frente Amplio, Carolina Cosse, In turn, he questioned “the opportunity” of the government, pointing out that “in the midst of an institutional scandal, it sends a bill that it knows will provoke an important social reaction,” he said, alluding to the leak of chats between Pablo Iturralde and Gustavo Penadés.
“If I were him Executive I would be worrying about the institutional crisis that I have been having. I wonder why he does this. Could it be that he wants us to talk about something else?” Cosse asked himself at a press conference.
Specifically about the changes, the mayor of Montevideo in use of license ‘criticized “the gesture”, pointing out that “if we have 42,000 complaints of gender-based violence and we know according to official data that in 60% of femicides There was no prior complaint, which means that the problem is not in a law, but in the fact.”
“The serious problem that Uruguay “It is gender-based violence,” said Cosse and stated: “Instead of attacking the problem, we look at absolutely untimely issues.”
“Could it be that he wants to show the Uruguayan people can this be touched? Is that the gesture that needs to be given to the thousands of women who are being victims of this? Or won’t the gesture be to redouble our efforts?” stated the pre-candidate.
Source: Ambito
