Belarus is preparing to make amendments in the country's penal code to chemically castrate convicted pedophiles.

Nasha Niva cited the Prosecutor-General’s Office of Belarus as saying that Belarus is planning to include chemical castration in the program for treating pedophiles as part of an action plan to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

The Prosecutor-General’s Office reportedly announced the steps on Telegram yesterday following approval from the Belarusian Government. 

Ms. Anzhelika Kurchak, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor General's Office, said on Telegram that the Health Ministry had "developed and approved a clinical protocol containing an algorithm for the treatment of pedophilia, including the use of chemical castration."

The amendments to the country’s penal code were reportedly prepared by the Interior Ministry envisaging “compulsory treatment of persons suffering from pedophilia,” in addition to their court sentence. 

According to data from the Belarusian Prosecutor-General’s Office, more than 3,500 children have become victims of crimes against sexual integrity over the past five years.  

Chemical castration is performed through the administration of drugs that reduce a patient’s sexual desire for a prolonged period of time or on a permanent basis.  Laws allowing chemical castration exist in some US states, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden and other countries.

RT chemical castration was introduced in Russia in 2012 as a voluntary procedure, which requires consent from the person sentenced for sexual abuse of minors.