Colombia's President Santos enacts tougher law on acid attacks

[Judi Lynn]

Source: BBC News

Colombia's President Santos enacts tougher law on acid attacks

55 minutes ago

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos has signed a law that imposes tougher sentences on the perpetrators of acid attacks.
Anyone convicted of such crimes will now serve between 12 and 50 years in jail.

Acid attacks have become a major concern in Colombia over the past decade.

About 100 people - most of them women - are estimated to be targeted every year.

The attackers can be male or female, ranging from disgruntled neighbours to jealous partners.

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-35349222

[lark]

1. How about also making them financially responsible for all the victims' medical care

That and jail for 50 years, no chance of early release, sounds about right. I added the no early release part because this is worse than cutting off someone's limb.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Colombia finally cracks down on a horrific wave of acid attacks against women

Colombia finally cracks down on a horrific wave of acid attacks against women
Simeon Tegel
on Jan 20, 2016 @ 6:00 AM

LIMA, Peru — Colombia is finally taking action against what may be the most intense wave of horrific acid attacks on women anywhere in the world.

President Juan Manuel Santos on Monday signed a new law that closes a legal loophole that often allowed attackers to get away scot-free. Official figures acknowledge 628 victims, but women’s rights activists believe the true toll may be far higher.

Under the new law, anyone using any kind of “chemical agent” to physically harm another person will receive a minimum sentence of 12 years behind bars. If the victim is permanently disfigured, the sentence will be up to 50 years.

Colombia’s wave of acid attacks is a relative anomaly in Latin America, where the tactic remains rare — despite entrenched sexism and high levels of violence against women across the region. Perpetrators are overwhelmingly men, while victims are mostly women.

More:
http://www.globalpost.com/article/6722130/2016/01/19/colombia-finally-cracks-down-horrific-wave-acid-attacks-against-women

[smirkymonkey]

3. Good, now if we could only get the rest of the world to crack down on this

crime!