2023-09-08 10:02:36
The planned tightening of penalties for depictions of child abuse is causing disagreements within the coalition. After the ÖVP accused Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens) of tardiness in the matter, Greens club leader Sigrid Maurer was annoyed by the “cheap attempt to raise her profile” by Youth State Secretary Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP). According to the Greens, the finished draft law can be passed in October. However, the ÖVP still sees a need for improvement.
The draft is already with the ÖVP and might be decided on in the next regular justice committee in October, club boss Maurer explained on Thursday evening in “Puls24”. The Secretary of State for Youth accused Maurer of making “political change” on this sensitive issue. At the same time, the Green Party leader pointed out that other parts of the package of child protection measures, for which the ÖVP is responsible, were still outstanding. Specifically, she mentioned the amendment to the School Education Act.
When asked on Friday, the Ministry of Justice said that the changes had been incorporated following the review process and that the draft law had been delivered on time. From the Greens’ perspective, the draft law might be passed at the beginning of October, said a spokeswoman for Zadic.
The ÖVP was less sure whether this date might be met. The State Secretariat for Youth told the APA on Friday that the draft law from the Ministry of Justice had only been received on Wednesday evening and would now be discussed in the coordination committee. Plakolm definitely sees a need for improvement; the draft is “not the best,” her office said. The criticism that young people who send each other naked pictures would also be criminalized by the tightening of the law has not yet been resolved.
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