MOSCOW, December 6 - RAPSI. Almost 3,000 children have been sexually abused in the first nine months of 2012, Investigative Committee representative Alexander Fyodorov said on Thursday.

"In the first nine months of 2012, 14,259 under-aged individuals were found to be abused, 1,292 children died from criminal offences, 399 children sustained injuries due to physical abuse, out of which 70 died. Some 969 girls were raped. Another 1961 children were subject to other forms of sexual abuse," Fyodorov said while speaking at the State Duma.

A law aimed at combatting pedophilia was approved in Russia on February 7, 2012.

However, according to Fyodorov, children are still not fully protected from sexual crimes.

A convention on the protection of children was signed in October of this year, but the Russian legislation must be amended.

One of the bills stipulates punishment for engaging in sexual activities with a minor.

Fyodorov also said that it is necessary to approve a law on notifying victims of sexual abuse and their parents on the pedophile's release from prison. The bill is being considered at the State Duma, but its approval terms keep being postponed.