Court Considers Lowering Age Of Consent To 14 After Young Girl Gets Pregnant By 15-Year-Old
Legislators should consider lowering the age of consent to 14 to address growing sexual activity among under-16s, a juvenile court has urged.
This issue came to light when a 15-year-old boy got his 14-year-old girlfriend pregnant, each ending up in court with separate charges of defilement and engaging in sexual activity with a minor under the age of 16, the Times of Malta reported.
Police investigations were prompted by social welfare officials who flagged the matter to the authorities. Both of the accused opted for their right not to testify against each other to avoid self-incrimination.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Abigail Critien noted that there wasn’t sufficient documentary evidence or witnesses that could result in a conviction.
The court observed that this case is not the first of its kind, begging the question of whether it’s time that legislators consider lowering the age of consent for cases when minors are faced with criminal charges.
If not, decriminalisation should be considered in cases where both underage minors of approximately the same age and same degree of maturity engage in consensual sex, the court proposed.
The magistrate highlighted the reality that minors are growing up faster and are more inclined to experiment with their sexuality at a younger age.
Meanwhile, if this law change had to be implemented, Malta’s age of consent would be closer to the average age in Europe which currently stands at 14.25.
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