Brazil's Senate bans age-based sentence reduction for rapists

The Brazilian Senate has approved a bill eliminating reduced sentences for rapists under 21 or over 70 years old, a measure now awaiting presidential approval. This unanimous decision aims to increase penalties for sexual crimes against women. The approved legislation removes age as a mitigating factor in sentencing and also prohibits reduced statute of limitations for these cases. Currently, the penal code allows for sentence reductions for offenders in the specified age ranges. The bill, a response to rising violence against women, was authored by Representative Laura Carneiro. The change seeks to ensure harsher punishments for sexual offenses, regardless of the perpetrator's age.