Denuncias falsas | El Mostrador

The article examines the risks associated with Chile’s legislative debate on criminalizing “false reports” in cases of child sexual abuse. It argues that a new law could punish not only deliberate lies but also good-faith reports that fail to be proven in court due to lack of evidence or statute of limitations. This would expose individuals with a legal duty to report, such as teachers and doctors, to criminal retaliation, thereby discouraging reporting and undermining victims’ due process rights. The relevance to open data lies in the critical need for transparency and access to reliable, disaggregated public information. Without accurate and accessible official data on the actual rates of malicious versus unproven reports, it is impossible to debate evidence-based public policies. The absence of robust open data allows unsubstantiated narratives, such as the claim of “thousands of men harmed,” to disproportionately influence legislation, silencing victims and perpetuating impunity. The main conclusion emphasizes that prioritizing the protection of alleged false accusers over the investigation of genuine abuse has a paralyzing effect on society. If the legal system penalizes those who report in good faith but cannot prove the facts, it entrenches a structural silence that benefits perpetrators. The author deeply questions what legacy we will leave to future generations: punishing those brave enough to break the silence, or guaranteeing their right to have the harm they suffered investigated.

Source: elmostrador.cl
Published on 2026-10-04

Denuncias falsas | El Mostrador

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