<img title="France to fix age of sexual consent at 15" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/2018/mar/sexual-consent.jpg" alt="France to fix age of sexual consent at 15" />
Representational picture
Paris: France plans to set the legal age of sexual consent as 15 after two-high profile cases involving 11-year-old girls, according to the country's Equality Minister Marl&egrave;ne Schiappa.
Schiappa said the government "decided to set the age at 15" after consultations with doctors and legal experts. She said a new law would be presented to the Council of Ministers -- France's equivalent of a Cabinet -- on March 21, according to local media reports.
Current laws in France criminalise sex with children under the age of 15 but prosecutors must prove that the sexual act was forced, the BBC reported.
Under the existing legislation, if there is no violence or coercion proved, offenders may only be charged with sexual abuse of a minor and not rape.
It has a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euro ($87,000).
Sentences are the same for sexual assaults of minors and non-minors, but rape convictions carry much harsher punishments.
The government is to approve the new age limit as part of a package of other laws against sexual violence and harassment in the coming weeks.
Minister of Solidarity and Health Agn&egrave;s Buzyn said setting a legal age of sexual consent would allow a "collective awareness" and that everyone would see what was "legal and illegal", Le Figaro newspaper reported.
In November 2017, a 30-year-old man was acquitted of rape after a court determined his 11-year-old victim had not been subjected to "constraint, threat, violence or surprise".
In another case, a court initially said a 28-year-old man should face charges of sexual assault, and not rape, after saying the victim was "not physically forced to have sex".
But the same court reversed its decision last month, saying the accused should face rape charges.
Catch up on all the latest <a title="mid-day news" href="https://www.mid-day.com/news" target="_blank">Crime, National, International and Hatke news</a> here. Also download the new mid-day <a title="mid-day android app " href="https://goo.gl/8Xlcvr" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a title="mid-day iOS app" href="https://goo.gl/KQziH4" target="_blank">iOS</a> apps to get latest updates
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

32 killed as Russian plane crashes in Syria

Current laws in France criminalise sex with children under the age of 15 but prosecutors must prove that the sexual act was forced, the BBC reported

France to fix age of sexual consent at 15

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / News / World News / Article / France to fix age of sexual consent at 15

France to fix age of sexual consent at 15

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast