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Criminal statutes of limitation in Latin America

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Survivors and advocates in Latin America are at the forefront of the global battle to empower victims and protect children by extending and/or eliminating criminal statutes of limitations (SOLs) for child sexual abuse crimes.

When criminal SOLs are eliminated, victims and survivors are able to identify more abusers, obtain justice, and educate the public about this scourge. Survivors of childhood sexual violence often only come forward decades after their experience, which allows perpetrators to continue offending well into their elder years. When victims and survivors are able to access justice, our whole society benefits.

This report showcases the criminal SOLs reform landscape, provides an overview of the status of SOLs in Latin America and ranks all countries in the region based on their stance on SOLs.

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Justice unleashed: Ending limitations, protecting children

With this report, we showcase why the criminal statutes of limitation for child sexual abuse crimes should be abolished across all member states of the Council of Europe. It recommends amending the Lanzarote Convention to include an Optional Protocol to achieve this goal.

May 30, 2025

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Two elderly men, one in a papal robe and the other in a suit, standing in a room with ornate furnishings and artwork.

A 25-Year fight for justice: Jose Enrique Escardó Steck’s landmark victories for survivors and children in Peru

For 25 years, Jose Enrique Escardó Steck (JEES) has been fighting for justice—not just for himself, but for countless survivors of abuse in Peru and Latin America. His audience with Pope Francis was a moment of validation—not just for him, but for all survivors and allies who have joined JEES in all these years and fought for justice despite systemic silence and repression. His testimony played a key role in the CRC’s historic recommendation on January 31: "Peru must establish a formal, independent State-led inquiry into child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. This is a landmark moment—not just for Peru, but for the global movement to hold institutions accountable for child abuse. It sets a precedent for government responsibility in ensuring justice for survivors, rather than leaving the process solely in the hands of the Church.

February 9, 2025

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A person walking on a brick path through a grassy park with leafy trees surrounding the area.

Breaking the silence: a survivor’s fight for collective transformation

One of the most painful aspects of this crime is that victims and survivors carry shame and guilt, partly because the abuser is often someone close to you, someone in whom you place your trust.

January 6, 2025

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Spread the word about Timeless Justice

We must end harmful laws that give abusers time to escape. Sign our petition in collaboration with ECPAT International.

May 26, 2025

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