The Law No. 24/2019 revising the Penal Code of Mozambique, aims to modernize and consolidate criminal legislation, adapting it to contemporary social, legal, and constitutional values. The reform introduces new categories of offences, updates legal definitions, and revises penalties, while also integrating previously dispersed provisions into a single, coherent legal framework. A key objective is to align criminal law with the protection of fundamental rights, freedoms, and guarantees, ensuring that the Penal Code reflects the evolving values of Mozambican society and provides a comprehensive repository of its core legal principles. The revised Code also emphasizes a more human-centered and rights-based approach to criminal justice, promoting the gradual shift towards decriminalization and the use of non-custodial sanctions as alternatives to imprisonment. This reflects an effort to balance punishment with proportionality, rehabilitation, and social reintegration of offenders. In this context, the reform strengthens the legal framework for addressing contemporary forms of criminality and social harm, including offences affecting vulnerable groups and evolving societal dynamics. Moreover, the revision contributes to addressing cross-cutting concerns such as gender equality, environmental protection, and broader socio-economic issues by enabling the criminalization or strengthening of offences related to these areas and incorporating them into a unified system of legal protection. While not exclusively focused on sectors such as food security, the Code supports broader public interests by regulating conduct that may harm public welfare, natural resources, and social development. Overall, the law seeks to establish a modern, coherent, and rights-oriented criminal justice framework, reinforcing the rule of law and ensuring more effective protection of individuals and society. The Code is divided in two books: Book 1 sets out the foundations of criminal law and Book 2 deals with specific crimes and their penalties, usually organized by categories of protected interests.
Mozambique · 2019-12-24