Following months of discussion and consideration, the Spanish government has announced the raising of the minimum age of sexual consent from 13 to 16, as confirmed by the Ministry of Health, where a spokesperson explained that “the measure is intended to prevent abuse and in no case to criminalize relationships”.
The measure, which is included in the draft Penal Code, is expected to be approved at the next Council of Ministers, and brings Spain in line with the majority of European countries.
The text states that an adult involved in an underage relationship will be sentenced to between two and six years in prison, if the relationship in considered consensual, to be dealt with by other laws if not.
Sources at the Department of Health say that “the text includes the measure aimed at preventing child abuse and in no case to criminalize peer relationships, and this is also reflected perfectly in the text”.
The Health Minister Ana Mato, proposed the increase in the age of consent in May, although it was originally presented in April at the same time the intention to increase the age of marriage from 14 to 16 was tabled.
Mato explained that the measure has been introduced following the recommendations of the Child Rights Committee of the UN in 2007, in order to fight against paedophilia and the Council of Europe, which considers that below 15 years a child cannot consent to sexual intercourse with an adult.
Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/40491/
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TODAY IN SPAIN – 4 SEPTEMBER 2013
RESCUE EXERCISES IN NORTHERN SPAIN
