The Verkhovna Rada Rejected a Bill to Decriminalize Pornography: What We Know
28 May 15:12
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine did not pass a bill to decriminalize the production and distribution of adult content. Legislative initiative No. 12191 received 207 votes in favor, falling short of the required 226, according to "Komersant Ukrainian", citing “Ukrinform.”
The bill was drafted to strengthen the protection of minors against the distribution among them of works, images, or other items of a pornographic nature, as well asand video productions, and computer programs of a pornographic nature, as well as preventing their coercion into participating in the creation of pornographic materials, and to improve certain provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine concerning the production of pornographic materials and their distribution among adults.
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The document proposed abolishing criminal liability for the importation, creation, and distribution of pornography involving adults.
Currently, such liability is provided for under Article 301 of the Criminal Code. The maximum penalty under this article is up to seven years of imprisonment.
It was also proposed to establish and strengthen criminal liability for the sale to minors or the distribution among them of works, images, or other materials of a pornographic nature, as well as films, videos, and computer programs of a pornographic nature.
At the same time, lawmakers proposed to separately establish and strengthen criminal liability for coercing minors into participating in the creation of pornographic content.
It should be noted that the debate over the decriminalization of adult content has reignited in Ukraine. The latest round of controversy was sparked by high-profile scandals within the law enforcement system itself. The current Article 301 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (distribution of pornography) is increasingly coming under scrutiny due to its ineffectiveness and corruption risks.
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