Sexual reproduction

The European Court of Justice in Brussels ruled on Tuesday that member states may not obstruct the freedom of residence of a European Union citizen by refusing to grant their same-sex spouse the right of residence.

Doctors are pointing to an increase in abortions and sexually-transmitted diseases among young Greek women who, they say, are relatively ignorant about gynecological issues, with sex education still not a priority at Greek schools.

The MUP made the announcement on Tuesday.

According to a press release, the crimes in question include extortion, inflicting grave bodily harm, endangering safety, coercion, persecution, abuse, torture, sexual intercourse with a helpless person, sexual intercourse with a child, neglect and abuse of a minor, and illegal sexual acts.

A new draft law over cases of sexual abuse against children is problematic, as minors under the age of 15 could also receive a sentence of eight to 15 years for engaging in sexual acts with each other, according to Istanbul University Prof. Dr. Adem Sözüer.

Existing legal procedures in the handling of child victims of sexual abuse in Greece take too long and are potentially traumatizing in and of themselves, while the quality of psychological support made available to the victims of sexual abuse or assault leaves a lot to be desired.

The Macedonian health ministry is working to redraw the divisive Law on Abortion and will soon submit its proposals to parliament, recently-appointed Health Minister Venko Filipce told media on Wednesday.

Pedophilia, a topic that has recently dominated headlines in Turkey, is not an expression of one’s sexual drive but instead is the hatred one feels against children, Gökhan Oral, the head of the Cerrahpaşa Medical School Forensics Department, said on Feb. 25.

A man has received a record 132-year jail sentence for blackmailing a 14-year-old girl into having sexual intercourse with him. The court has also sentenced two of the man’s friends, who faced the same accusation, to 39 and 52 years in jail respectively.

“No means no” is a new battle cry for Brazilian women mobilizing against assault at carnival, a raucous party whose free-wheeling atmosphere leaves women particularly vulnerable to unwanted sexual contact.     

Ireland will hold a referendum at the end of May on liberalizing its restrictive abortion laws, a highly sensitive issue in the traditionally devoutly Catholic country.