Amendments also contemplate that victims’ testimony will be preserved to avoid the retraction of denunciations and time response to victims will be reduced.

Multiple investigations on domestic violence in Colombia have revealed a reality that reflects the seriousness of cases and their frequency. Aware of the need to strengthen regulations and provide new tools to guarantee rights of women, children and teenagers who are victims, the Office of the Attorney General proposed the amendments of the Criminal Code before the Congress.

The initiative was approved on April 23rd by the legislative branch. Once the conciliation process is completed, the prosecuting authority will have new legal tools to move forward an effective prosecution of people responsible in well known cases and guarantee protection to victims that decide to denounce their aggressors.