Under the law, sponsored by Poland's center-Right government, paedophiles convicted of raping children under the age of 15 years or a close relative would have to undergo chemical therapy on their release from prison.
"The purpose of this action is to improve the mental health of the convict, to lower his libido and thereby to reduce the risk of another crime being committed by the same person," the government said in a statement.
But the move drew criticism from human rights groups.
"Introducing any mandatory treatment raises doubts as such a requirement is never reasonable and life can always produce cases that lawmakers could never have even dreamt of," said Piotr Kladoczny from the Helsinki Foundation of Human Rights.
The law was approved by an overwhelming majority of 400 with one vote against and two abstentions in Poland's 460-seat lower house of parliament.
The bill, which also increases prison sentences for rape and incest, must still be approved by the upper chamber of parliament. But this is seen as a formality as Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Civic Platform party holds a majority of its 100 seats.
Mr Tusk first raised the controversial issue of chemical castration for convicted paedophiles in a year ago, after a 45-year-old man was charged with having raped and held his 21-year-old daughter captive for six years.
The young woman gave birth to two children, in 2005 and 2007, allegedly the result of having been raped by her father.
"I want ... to introduce in Poland the most rigorous law possible regarding criminals who rape children," Mr Tusk said at the time.
Seven hundred cases of paedophilia are reported to police in Poland each year, according to justice officials.
Poland's southern EU neighbor, the Czech Republic, has voluntary chemical and surgical castration laws in place for sex offenders.
Since 2000, around 300 Czech patients have undergone chemical castration, with around 94 undergoing the surgical removal of genitalia on a voluntary basis, according to Czech government statistics.
I think all countries should adopt this law. Of course I wouldn't expect Islamic countries or other cultures that place women as property of males or place us lower than the pet dog and any owned livestock that the man may own. But countries that want to make a safe place for women should increase the punishment for these crimes.
There is no chance in this case of a vindictive female accusing her abusive boyfriend simply to have him castrated. This is incest and the rape of minors.
I understand that testosterone is the hormone responsible for making males need to procreate all the time so I do feel sorry for men in that way. But if a man cannot resist the temptation to steal that car or kill that man or rape that girl then he deserves a full and just punishment.
I read that human rights activists are complaining about this - do they forget about the rights of the raped girl?
A Chemical castration is pretty humane and is simply an injection that lasts up to three months. These drugs can reduce sex drive, compulsive sexual fantasies, and capacity for sexual arousal. This treatment is reversible and is certainly much kinder than a justice than I would offer him. Rape is not reversible is it?
To the law-makers of Poland, I stand and applaud your noble intent and actions.
To the rest of the world - keep your eyes closed to the horrors until they visit your life.
To the human rights people - you normally do a good job but please remember that some people lose access to rights, think of those in jail losing rights of liberty of freedom when they commit crimes that infringe and even destroy the rights of their victims.
I have long admired Poland for many reasons.
I've just came back home after nice weekend out of the city and look what I found? I've read our post with pleasure, thank you.
I stand by chemical castration.
People ask "why? prison is not enough?". Unfortunately it is not, that's why our premier looks for another solituion and comes with chemical castration. After spending some time in prison rapers and pedofiles still have sexual needs. I hear about a pedofile who raped 4-months child as a first thing after coming out from prisons - it proves that this kind of punishment doesn't work like it should. Chemical castration can do it. How Japanese law treats pedofiles and rapists? And what government says about this case?
Polish Women's Party that you put link in the end of your post is nice idea. These women are not very seminal at our political arena but they do a lot of good things for polish women, talk about our problems, try to help in many ways. They do a good job. How about Japan? Do you have something like this in your country?
Hugs from Poland ;)
Anna
Ania
September 28, 2009 5:25 PMIn Japan they are sent to prison and in 'some cases' a worse fate befalls them.
There is no womens party here although some women do get into politics. It is also interesting for me to note that quite a few women lose their seats due to incidents in their past.
We are very much a two tier system where a woman can be paid less for doing the same job as that of her male colleague.
The same as anywhere else, we do the best we can to make our way in this world.
Jazz
September 28, 2009 10:28 PM