Dutch proposal would lower sexual consent age from 16 to 12
UPI Archives
The proposal by Justice Minister Kortout Altes would make it legal for adults to have sexual intercourse with male or female children as young as 12 ‘if the child concerned consents.’
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A government proposal to lower the legal age of sexual consent from 16 to 12 came under attack Friday from the political opposition as well as members of the ruling coalition parties.
The proposal by Justice Minister Kortout Altes would make it legal for adults to have sexual intercourse with male or female children as young as 12 ‘if the child concerned consents.’
Opposition mounted in both parties of the ruling coalition and the opposition Labor Party since the proposed Sexual Crimes Act was published. It appeared likely the controversial sections regarding children would be amended.
Members of the Christian Democratic Party, partners in the center-right coalition with the Liberal Party, joined with Labor opposition members in objecting to lowering the age of consent.
Although the justice minister is a Liberal, several members of his own party also expressed opposition.
Some Labor members said it defeated a recent debate in Parliament on the need to protect children under 16 from pornographic literature in bookshops.
By lowering the legal age limit to 12, they said, the proposed legislation would simply give the green light to sexual crimes against children.
Other opponents questioned whether a 12-year-old could decide whether he or she wanted sex with an adult.
Other parts of the proposed legislation, designed to ‘liberalize’ Dutch sex laws, would also drop use of the word ‘she’ in legal terminology. Victims of rape would be referred to as ‘person’ or ‘persons,’ according to the draft.
Altes said this would mean that rape offenses against males would be punishable in the same way as similar offenses against females.