PARIS – The French parliament adopted legislation that characterizes sex with a child under the age of 15 as rape and punishable by up to 20 years in jail.
While the age of consent was previously 15, prosecutors in France used to be required to prove sex was non-consensual to obtain a rape conviction.
“This is an historic law for our children and our society,” Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti told the National Assembly on Thursday.
The legislation also considers incestuous sex with a minor under 18 to be rape.
The vote in favor of the bill was unanimous at its final reading, the Assembly said.(Reuters)
