Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rica legislators approved by a majority, in first debate, a bill that seeks to increase the penalties for people who use acid or other corrosive substances as a means of violence against women.
Bill 24.388, “Law to aggravate crimes against women when acid and other corrosive substances are used”, was presented by Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC) legislator, Daniela Rojas.
“Today we take an important step, by approving in the first debate bi;; 24.388. Currently, the law of penalization of violence against women does not contemplate this type of act”, said the legislator.
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“This initiative will come to strengthen the protection of women and will contribute to the construction of a safer and more just society”, she added.
What does the law seek?
This bill is presented with the aim of including an aggravating factor in section e) of numeral 8 of the Law on the Penalization of Violence against Women.
It will apply to cases in which the criminal act is carried out through the use of Acidic substances and, Corrosive, irritating, toxic or flammable agents or substances.
Acid attacks are a form of violence against women
These attacks entail the act of throwing sulfuric or nitric acid onto an individual’s face or body. The corrosive nature of these substances causes the skin tissue to dissolve, potentially revealing or deteriorating the bones beneath. This can result in lasting physical deformities, scarring, constriction of the nostrils, eyelids, and ears, as well as irreversible harm to vision and hearing.
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Individuals who specifically focus on harming a victim’s face are intending to cause permanent damage and disfigurement rather than death. This can lead to severe social and psychological challenges for the victims, such as enduring health issues, isolation from society, a decline in social and economic standing, poverty, and destitution.
The damaging effects of corrosive substance violence are unsettling regardless of the circumstances. However, one aspect that is frequently overlooked is that it is a type of violence that disproportionately affects women.
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