Veterinarians ask that animal sexual abuse be criminalized in Latvia

Currently, the Criminal Law provides for criminal liability only for the distribution of pornographic material depicting human sexual acts with animals. Still, it does not establish a separate criminal offence for the sexual exploitation of animals. Four accused of systematic animal abuse in LatviaYesterday, 10:49 This means that a person cannot be held criminally liable specifically for the sexual exploitation of an animal, unless the elements of another criminal offence can be proven, such as torture, cruel treatment of an animal, bodily injury, or the death of an animal, the association explained. In veterinary practice, there are situations where veterinarians have reasonable suspicions of animal sexual abuse. However, even significant evidence is not sufficient to hold a person criminally liable for the sexual abuse of that animal. “The sexual abuse of an animal cannot be assessed solely based on whether the animal has visible physical injuries. An animal cannot give consent to sexual acts. Therefore, the sexual exploitation of an animal is, in and of itself, a serious violation of the animal’s welfare and dignity, which must be clearly and unambiguously criminalised. The law must clearly state that any sexual exploitation of an animal is a crime, regardless of whether physical injuries are present,” the association emphasised. Therefore, the Latvian Veterinary Association calls on the Ministry of Justice to draft, and on the Saeima to adopt, appropriate amendments to the Criminal Law, establishing that sexual acts with animals constitute a separate criminal offence.