Brazilian lawmakers propose harsher penalties for crimes against children and animals

Federal deputy Rodrigo Valadares (PL‑SE) introduced a bill to prohibit any form of clemency—grace, pardon, indult, commutation or victim‑offender forgiveness—when a crime is committed against a child under 12. The proposal, motivated by the recent Henry Borel case and the sentencing of the child’s mother, seeks to amend the Penal Code, the Law on Heinous Crimes and the Child and Adolescent Statute, extending the ban to both intentional and negligent offenses.

In Curitiba, councilwoman Andressa Bianchessi presented a municipal project to toughen penalties for zoophilia. The draft sets fines up to R$ 100,000, mandates payment for animal‑care costs, bans offenders from owning or caring for animals for at least eight years, and bars them from holding public office. It also requires participation in educational programs aimed at preventing further cruelty.