Courts hand long prison terms for sexual abuse of minors

Portugal's Polícia Judiciária detained a 65‑year‑old man suspected of sexually abusing his 10‑year‑old granddaughter in Felgueiras, Porto. He will face judicial interrogation.

In Bolivia, a 41‑year‑old man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for repeatedly raping his 11‑year‑old niece in Yacuiba, Tarija, after a trial that presented forensic, psychological and testimonial evidence.

Argentina saw several convictions: an 8‑year prison term for a man who abused his stepdaughter in Palpalá, Jujuy; a 10‑year‑six‑month sentence confirmed for a man who abused his partner’s daughter in San Carlos de Bolívar, Buenos Aires province; and another 8‑year term for a man who abused his partner’s daughter in the city of Bolívar.

Spain’s courts also imposed substantial sentences: an 8‑year‑9‑month term for a man convicted of sexually assaulting his niece in Valladolid, and a 2‑year‑3‑month term for a 73‑year‑old man who sexually assaulted two girls through a school fence in San Andrés del Rabanedo, León province. Both decisions affirmed earlier rulings and included civil damages.

These cases illustrate a coordinated legal response across Europe and Latin America to protect minors and punish sexual violence.