Local deputy Paul Ospital from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) presented an initiative to create a State Law for the Registry of Sexual Offenders in Querétaro aiming to address the concerning issue of child sexual abuse in the region. If approved, it would make Querétaro the third entity in Mexico to have such a registry, following Mexico City and Baja California.
The proposal seeks to identify, monitor, and impose restrictions on those convicted of sexual abuse crimes, even after serving their sentences. According to Ospital, the intent is for offenders to be stigmatized for life, reflecting the permanent harm they cause to victims. This measure also aims to limit the reintegration possibilities of offenders in certain social spheres.
The proposed registry would be accessible to entities such as the Attorney General's Office of Querétaro and the Superior Court of Justice, allowing them to act preventively and rigorously in protecting children. Ospital highlights that 70% of child abuse cases are perpetrated by close family members and that only 2% of crimes are reported, highlighting an alarming and underreported reality.
The initiative also states that direct victims should have access to the registry information and, if they wish, be able to publicly disclose the identities of their offenders. Through this measure, the aim is not only to punish offenders but also to contribute to a social change that allows for more effective addressing of a problem that affects one in five girls and one in ten boys in Mexico.
Among the proposed restrictions for offenders are limitations on obtaining driver's licenses and access to certain jobs. Ospital emphasizes the severity of child sexual abuse, pointing out that in many cases this problem remains hidden within families. The intention of the law is to reinforce state control over those who have committed such crimes, preventing them from occupying positions that represent a risk to society.
