Chemical castration: which countries have applied it and what have been the results?

President Pedro Castillo's proposal to apply chemical castration to rapists and sexual abusers of children, women and adolescents has aroused a great debate in Peru, as many have spoken out against this bill and others hope that Congress will succeed in approving it in order to apply it to all those convicted of this crime, which is punishable by life imprisonment in the country. But which other countries have approved this measure on a mandatory basis?

Here are some countries where it has been implemented and the effects it had on the reduction of these crimes.

INDONESIA

In 2017, the country approved chemical castration for those who commit sexual crimes against minors. The then president, Joko Widodo, had proposed the measure in May, following the case of a gang rape of a 14-year-old girl who shocked the country.

“Sexual violence against children has grown significantly in Indonesia,” the president said at the time.

“The new decree will provide judges with space to opt for harsher punishments that have a deterrent effect on perpetrators,” he said.

Did it work?

In Indonesia, cases of sexual violence against minors continued and were even increasing since this law was passed in Parliament.

According to the Indonesian Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK), 70 victims of child sexual abuse were reported in 2017, in 2018 the figure rose to 149. On the other hand, by August 2019, the figure was nearly 1,200 victims — those who reported.

In addition, according to the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan), 338,496 cases of sexual violence were reported in the country in 2021, an increase of 50% compared to the previous year.

UNITED STATES

Sexologist John Money was the first American to apply chemical castration in 1966. He prescribed medroxyprogesterone acetate as a treatment for patients “with pedophilic impulses.” 30 years later, in 1996, the state of California amended its penal code to include it as a punishment for those convicted of sexual abuse of minors. A year later, Florida passed a similar law.

Currently, about nine states have implemented this measure in cases of sexual abuse of minors. Among them are Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Chemical castration, from 1993 to 2005-2006, recorded a decrease of at least 47% in cases of child sexual abuse. However, since the 2010s, these have been increasing.

Child Protective Services agencies reported that in 2016 alone, 57, 329 children were victims of sexual abuse. In addition, these cases increased with quarantine due to the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, with a 22% increase in monthly calls to the National Rape, Abuse and Incest Help Center in March.

67% identified their abuser as a family member and 79% said they were currently living with that perpetrator.

POLONIA

On 25 September 2009, the lower house of Parliament in Poland passed an amendment to the Penal Code to include chemical castration for child molesters. This made it the first country in the European Union to approve the measure.

However, it only entered into force in June 2010. It was established that persons convicted of rape of children under 15 years of age could be “forced to undergo chemical and psychological therapy to reduce their sexual desire at the end of a prison sentence”.

Poland was immersed in a great deal of controversy, as it was revealed that the Catholic Church had been responsible for 28% of reported sexual complaints between 2017 and 2020. In these years, 349 cases were recorded. This led to discussion about the environment where abuse occurs, but there was still an increase in the consumption of “Child sexual abuse material”. According to experts from the Dyżurnet Scientific and Academic Computer Network, in 2017, 2,184 cases were registered; in 2018, 1,775; in 2019, 709; and in 2020, 2,517.

RUSIA

On October 4, 2011, Russia's parliament passed a law against pedophilia stating that persons who have committed sexual crimes against children under 14 years of age would be subjected to chemical castration and repeat offenders to life imprisonment. This would be done on the basis of a report from a forensic psychiatrist. It came into force in 2012.

For criminals whose victim is over 14 years of age, you have the possibility of requesting chemical castration voluntarily. This would allow them access to parole.

However, child sexual abuse is still a silent but latent problem in Russia. In 2007, Putin's country became the first producer of child pornography. According to the “Sisters” Center, an organization that helps and supports survivors of sexual violence and their families, combating these crimes remains a problem. This is especially true in the receipt of complaints, as only 12% of victims of sexual violence file complaints, complaints from one in five victims are accepted, and only 2.9% manage to take their cases to court.

MOLDAVIA

The measure was passed on a mandatory basis for juvenile rapists on 6 March 2012. The then MP of the Liberal Party of Moldova had justified the measure by pointing out that the country had become a duty station for pedophiles from countries of the European Union and the United States. “After serving the prison sentence, pederasts commit the same crimes again. Over the past five years, 15 child molesters have been tried again on the same charge,” he justified.

In recent years, Moldova has made significant progress in promoting the fundamental rights of the child. However, the most recent UNICEF Situation Analysis (SITAN) shows that there are several groups whose rights are still being violated and who suffer persistent deprivation and inequities. They pointed out that sexual abuse is one of those challenges that Moldovan children face most commonly. In figures, 368 cases were recorded in 2010.

ESTONIA

In June 2012, Estonia approved compulsory chemical castration for persons convicted of sexual abuse of minors. According to the legislation adopted, it is the courts that must impose such 'treatment' for a maximum of three years.

Estonia still has to face a large percentage of cases of child sexual abuse. In 2016, a study conducted by researchers from the University of Tartu revealed that 32% of Estonian children and young people experience sexual abuse, but only a small percentage turn to a specialist to treat the problem.

In addition, according to the World Health Organization, of the 204 million children under the age of 18 in the European region, 9.6% suffer sexual abuse.

COREA DEL SUR

The first time this measure was applied was on 2 January 2013. The Seoul Court sentenced a 31-year-old man accused of pedophilia to 15 years in prison and to three years of chemical castration with hormonal treatment.

The law on compulsory castration had been ratified in July 2012. This allows the use of hormonal treatment for those convicted of pedophilia over the age of 19 who the court considers to be inclined to reoffend.

According to ECPAT International and TACTEENNAEIL, South Korea has demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting children from sexual exploitation. Cases such as the 'Nth Room' in 2020 attracted national attention, but gender norms persist and hinder access to aid.

In addition, reported and reported cases have been increasing over the years. In 2016, 29,674 cases were reported; in 2018, 34, 269; in 2018, 36, 427; in 2019, 41, 389; and in 2020 the figure was 42, 251.

OTHER COUNTRIES

Other countries that have approved forced chemical castration of pedophiles are Ukraine, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, Norway and Sweden.

On a voluntary basis, it is planned in the United Kingdom, Australia, Spain, France, and Argentina, as the only country in Latin America.

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