Germans who were sexually abused as children will now have up to 30
years after their 21st birthday to bring their alleged attackers before
the courts.
The change was triggered by last year's sex abuse scandal that rocked the nation's Roman Catholic Church.
The
previous statute of limitations on civil abuse cases was only three
years.
Criminal cases have a statute of limitations ranging from three
to 30 years, depending on the charges.
Justice Minister Sabine
Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger praised the legislation, approved Wednesday
by Cabinet, for strengthening victims' rights.
Parliament is expected to pass the legislation later this year.
Germany, the homeland of Pope Benedict XVI, was part of a European wave of allegations of abuse by clerics.