Brazil's Congress Advances Bill to Lower Criminal Responsibility Age from 18 to 16

Brazil's Congress has advanced legislation that would lower the age of criminal responsibility from 18 to 16 years old. The proposal still requires several additional legislative steps in the parliament, which currently has a conservative majority. Brazil's Ministry of Human Rights has opposed the measure, stating that lowering the age of criminal responsibility would be "ineffective in fighting violence." The bill represents a significant shift in Brazil's approach to juvenile justice, as the country currently treats minors under 18 as requiring rehabilitation rather than criminal punishment.