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US: Parents could soon face paedophilia charges for changing toddler's nappy

A court in Arizona has passed a ruling that could equate changing a toddler's diapers with paedophilia.

Arizona: Parents in US could soon be prosecuted for changing their newborn's diapers after a recent ruling by a court in Arizona.

According to a report in the Independent, the Supreme Court of Arizona had issued a ruling that interpreted the law to criminalise any kind of contact between an adult and a child's genitals.

The law comes in the wake of recent incident in which the court upheld the case of a man who was convicted for allegedly molesting his step-daughter.

During the court proceedings of the case, it was examined that, according to the state's laws involving sexual abuse, any contact with a minor's genitals would be considered as a criminal offence -- even if there is no proof of sexual abuse or intention.

The ruling defines "sexual contact" as "any direct or indirect touching, fondling or manipulating of any part of the genitals, anus or female breast by any part of the body or by any object or causing a person to engage in such contact, according to the report.

In reference to the above stated law, a legal analyst, Monica Lindstorm said that changing a child's nappy can be enough for a person to get convicted. 'The statue says intentionally or knowingly having sexual contact,' she explained.

"Sexual contact is just the direct or indirect touching of the genitals. That is where the changing of the diaper could come into play," she added.

( Source : deccan chronicle )
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