The revised bill of the Child Abuse Penalty Act passed six days after the’Jung In-i case’, which died 16 months after birth due to the abuse of her adoptive parents, was broadcast on a TV program on the 2nd. Immediately after the report, the National Assembly finally passed the committee’s alternative, which merged and reviewed nine out of 20 bills that were poured out competitively. However, in the field, he stressed that “the only revision of the law is not the answer,” and “a careful revision of guidelines that reflects the field must be followed.”
Members of civic groups are crying at a press conference held on the 7th in front of the Blue House fountain in Jongno-gu, Seoul, calling for a special appreciation for the Holt Children’s Welfare Association, where Jung In carried out the adoption process. News 1
“You can’t protect children just because you change the law”
The main point of the amendment passed is that if there is a report from a person obligated to report child abuse (children’s facility workers, medical personnel, etc.), the police should immediately initiate an investigation. In addition, a provision was added that the police and dedicated public officials should separate the victim from the perpetrator when investigating the victim, the reporter, or the witness. The fines that must be paid for interfering with child abuse-related tasks have increased from a maximum of 15 million won to 50 million won.
Regarding this, experts say, “You can’t protect a child just by changing the law,” and “You should pay attention to follow-up measures.” Kim Ye-won, an attorney at the Disabled Rights Law Center, said, “It is difficult to see that the voices of the scene have been sufficiently delivered as the bill passed quickly.” Said. He added, “There are too many areas to look into, such as the Child Welfare Act revised in November of last year (mechanical immediate separation when reporting twice) and the unreasonable scope of work of public officials dedicated to child abuse.”
The scene of the people’s strength conference on the 7th. News 1
Kim Mi-sook, an auditor of the Korean Society of Child Welfare, also said, “You cannot save a child who is abused just by changing the law right away. You should also pay attention to budget preparation and manpower reinforcement to prevent child abuse.” Auditor Kim also pointed out, “Looking at the changed law, it will only increase confusion in practice.”
‘Toxin’ clause was omitted in the controversy
This amendment did not reflect provisions such as’immediate separation of abusive children and parents’ and’strengthening the sentence for child abuse and lethality’ that were previously discussed. This is because the expert’s quick legislative point is that “you should not pass a bill without a bird to filter out the deformation.” On the 6th, lawyer Kim Ye-won said on his Facebook page, “There is already an immediate separation manual.” But, in a situation where the capacity of the shelter that allows the separated children to stay is less than 10%, where do you want to send the children who go away? He pointed out. He also said, “I agree with the violent punishment of the perpetrator,” and “raising the lower limit of the legal penalty can make the prosecution process difficult.”
At the plenary session of the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 8th, a bill on the punishment of serious disasters (left) and a bill to partially revised the special law on punishment of child abuse crimes (also known as Ini Jeong Act) were passed. News 1
“Please show the National Assembly cautious”
Attorney Kim also criticized that “when a social incident occurs, the National Assembly should be more cautious.” He said, “After the broadcast of the abuse case was over, seven bills were poured out on the same day,” he said. “I was amazed at the appearance of trying to process the bill without a meeting.” He added, “It may be urgent, but it is better not to amend the law to stop the site.” Auditor Misuk Kim also said, “We discussed the National Assembly, but it was too urgent,” he said. “There are already various systems in place.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly decided to continue discussing the provisions on the prevention of child abuse that were not passed this time. In addition to’immediate separation’ and’reinforcement of sentence’,’imposing counseling fees to child abuse perpetrators’ and’disclosure of the perpetrator’s personal information’ will be discussed to determine whether to reflect in the Child Abuse Punishment Act in the future.
Reporter Kyung-Hyun Kyung-Hyun [email protected]