By: Jenilyn Brhel
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
PARIS, France – Lawmakers in France are in the process of formalizing the age of sexual consent after public outcry over two cases involving preteens.
France’s government has proposed new laws, one of which makes the age of sexual consent fifteen years. The legislation will be one of several measures taken by the government to combat sexual harassment and violence in the country.
The current law in France criminalizes sex with children under fifteen. However, prosecutors in those cases must prove that the sex was by force.
New measures also include increased prison sentences for perpetrators. There will be on-the-spot street fines issued for sexual harassment. Repeat offenders will face increasing fines.
The bill will also present sanctions for online harassment.
Additionally, underage rape victims will be able to report sexual violence until they are 48 years old, ten years longer than the current limit.
Prison sentences for rape involving penetration will increase from the current sentence of five years to ten years.
The push for new laws has gained momentum recently in France due to two high-profile cases involving eleven-year-old girls. The perpetrators in those cases, who were 28 and 30, were acquitted, causing an uproar in France and prompted the government to discuss tightening laws aimed toward combating sexual violence.
Marlene Schiappa, French Equality Minister, said that “we want to fix an age in the law below which it’s always forbidden to have sex with children, with young girls. Below which it’s always considered as a rape.”
President Macron supports the bills and hopes that the new laws ensure that “women are not afraid to be outside.”
In polls conducted in the country, ninety-two percent surveyed support extension of the statute of limitations, ninety percent support on-the-spot street fines and sixty-nine percent support setting the age of consent at fifteen years of age.
It is crucial that the laws of the republic make it clear that it is not allowed to harass or intimidate women…whether in the public space, on public transport or online” Schiappa said. “There can be no lawless zones.”
Age of consent laws vary internationally. Neighboring European countries such as the United Kingdom, Spain and Russia set the age of consent at 16, whereas in Germany, Italy and Hungary it is 14.
Fore more information, please see:
BBC News – France to set Legal age of Sexual Consent at 15 – 6 March 2018
CNN – France to set age of Sexual Consent at 15 After Rape Outcry – 6 March 2018
Newsweek – France to set age of Sexual Consent at 15, Paving way for Rape Charges – 6 March 2018
NPR – France Moves to Make 15 Legal age of Consent for sex – 6 March 2018
USA Today – French Bull Puts 15 as age of Consent for sex, Includes on-the-spot Fines for Harassment – 21 March 2018
