French MPs have voted to back a new law that would set the age of consent at 15 and prohibit sex with relatives aged under 18. It is expected to pass in the Senate and will give France an age of consent for sexual relations for the first time. It comes after a series of sexual abuse scandals that shook the country. Supporters say it will make it easier to prosecute both historical and recent cases of sexual abuse. The bill was passed unanimously by politicians in the National Assembly on Monday night. President Emmanuel Macron’s government has said that after final approval in the spring, it wants the bill to come into force quickly. “No adult will be able to take advantage of the consent of a minor,” Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti said on Monday. “We do not touch children,” he added. Currently French law means consent can be accepted as legally meaningful for sexual relations at any age, including in cases of children having sex with adults, or between blood relations.
Sex between adults and the under-15s is banned, but allegations of child rape are notoriously difficult to prove in court partly because the law says under-15s can consent. A rape charge is only possible if there is proof of “force, threat, violence or surprise” – otherwise it is tried as the lesser offence of sexual assault. That applies to children as well. The new law would make it impossible for those under 15 to consent to sex. The sentence for rape would be up to 20 years in prison.(BBC)…[+]