France's government seeks to set the age of sexual consent at 15, to make it easier to punish older cases of sexual abuse. The move comes amid increased pressure and a wave of online testimonies about rape and sexual abuse by parents and other authority figures.
France tried setting the age of consent at 15 three years ago in wake of the #MeToo movement, but the move failed due to legal complications.
French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti announced the move on Tuesday. In France, rape is defined as sexual penetration “under violence, duress, threat or surprise,” regardless of age.
Dupond-Moretti said that the law would have an exception that would allow teenagers in a relationship to engage in sexual acts if one of them is 18. A sexual act with a child under the age of 15 without penetration can land the offender a penalty lighter than the maximum sentence for rape. The change, which is a major step to toughen France's protection of minors who are victims of rape and sexual violence, still needs to be converted to law. The justice ministry is in discussion with groups of victims of sexual abuse to toughen punishment for incest. It is also looking into abolishing the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse or extending it.
