CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR GROOMING

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of topical issues of criminal liability for groom­ing. A new composition of the criminal offense under Art. 156-1 - “Harassment of a child for sexual purposes.” Qualification of grooming and cybergrooming is provided. Based on the analysis, proposals for improving the legislation were formulated. The urgency of this issue is also due to the constant amendments to Chapter IV of the Special Part of the Criminal Code, adopted by legislators, in particular the amend­ment of 18.02.2021 new article 156-1 - “Harassment of a child for sexual purposes” to strengthen protection of children from sexual harassment online. Accordingly, the purpose of the study were: 1) analysis of innovations that were included in Chapter IV of the Special Part of the Criminal Code, in particular, Art. 156- 1 “Harassment of a child for sexual purposes”; 2) definition of grooming and cyber grooming; 3) research of innovations that were included in Chapter XII of the Special Part of the Criminal Code, in particular, Art. 301-1 Obtaining access to child pornog­raphy, its acquisition, storage, import, transportation or other movement, production, sale and distribution, and Art. 302-2 Conducting a spectacular event of a sexual nature with the participation of a minor. Criminal offenses against sexual freedom and sexual integrity of a person are one of the most serious illegal encroachments recorded in modern criminal law, as these criminal offenses remain in the minds of the victim, his relatives and friends for life. It would be fair to say that such criminal offenses in one hundred percent form have no purpose other than to rigidly satisfy the offender’s sexual “low” needs.