Background and Relevance of the Case
On August 13, 2025, the First Collegiate Prosecutor’s Office of Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN) resolved a case involving a man sentenced to 15 years in prison for the crime of human trafficking, specifically for sharing video recordings featuring minors under 18 engaging in sexual acts.
Legal Framework
The sentence is outlined in Article 16 of the General Law to Prevent, Punish, and Eradicate Crimes Related to Human Trafficking. However, the convicted individual argued that the penalty of 15 to 30 years, as per the law, was unconstitutional. He claimed that producing and sharing such material with minors were equally severely punished, which led him to file a direct amparo.
Court’s Analysis and Decision
The Tribunal Colegiado dismissed the amparo, and the case reached the SCJN for review. The First Collegiate Prosecutor’s Office emphasized the complexity of human trafficking, a severe violation of human dignity that necessitates stringent sanctions, especially when it involves children and adolescents.
The SCJN determined that imposing a high penalty was reasonable, given the profound impact that producing and disseminating such material can have on minors’ development and well-being.
Ultimately, the court concluded that the sanction did not violate the constitutional principle of proportionality, as all crimes related to human trafficking against minors carried similar penalties.
Unanimous Decision
By a unanimous decision of five votes, the SCJN upheld the original sentence and denied the requested amparo. The case was resolved on August 13, 2025, under the direct amparo review number 429/2025, with Minister Loretta Ortiz presiding.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was the case about? A man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for sharing video recordings featuring minors engaging in sexual acts.
- Why did the convicted individual challenge the sentence? He argued that the 15 to 30-year penalty was unconstitutional, as it equally punished both those who produced and shared such material with minors.
- What was the SCJN’s rationale for upholding the sentence? The court emphasized the severe impact of human trafficking on minors’ development and well-being, deeming the high penalty reasonable and in line with the constitutional principle of proportionality.
- What was the final decision? The SCJN unanimously decided to uphold the original 15-year sentence and deny the requested amparo.
