Penal Code (Law 599 of 2000)

The Penal Code (Law 599 of 2000) contains various provisions relevant to the ‘Children and Armed Conflict’ agenda. Key provisions include the following:

• Article 101 addresses genocide and specifies particular penalties, which include prison time and fines.
• Article 103A addresses homicide against minors.
• Article 162 addresses unlawful recruitment, stating that persons who, during armed conflict, recruit minors under eighteen (18) years of age, uses them or forces them to participate directly or indirectly in hostilities, or in armed actions, shall incur a prison term of one hundred and fifty-six (156) to two hundred and seventy-six (276) months and a fine of (800) eight hundred to (1,500) one thousand five hundred legal monthly minimum wages.
• Article 188C addresses trafficking and smuggling of children and adolescents, stating that anyone who participates in any act or transaction whereby children or adolescents are sold or trafficking for an amount of money, shall be imprisoned for thirty (30) to sixty (60) years or a fine equal to one thousand (1.000) to two thousand (2000) current legal minimum monthly salary.
• Article 211A addresses abusive sexual acts.