EU child abuse law will lead to tougher sentences in Spain

A European Union (EU) directive approved on Thursday will oblige Spain to toughen its laws on child abuse. Among the measures laid out in the directive is the barring of anybody with a previous record for such crimes from working with children.

The new regulations also impose a minimum sentence of 10 years for those "who coerce or use force against a minor to practice sex or to prostitute." This goes further than current Spanish legislation, which distinguishes between crimes committed against children aged up to 13 and from 13 to 18. In the latter case, sentences of six to 12 years are usual.

Making a pornographic film involving children will carry a penalty of no less than three years; watching one will mean up to a year behind bars. Pedophile sex tourism will also be considered a crime if carried out in the EU, or by an EU citizen in other countries.

Governments will be given the power to block or shut down websites with underage pornographic content and companies will have the right to ask for the previous records of their employees. "It's a rigorous and leading legislation," said vice president of the European parliament, Roberta Angelilli.