Gay sex: Change in age of consent?

Friday 16th September 2005, 12:00AM BST.

THE legal age for male homosexual sex in Jersey may be reduced to 16 to bring the law in line with human rights.

At present, homosexual men may legally have sex only above the age of 18, although the legal age of consent for heterosexuals is 16.

But the Home Affairs Committee want the States to agree to lower the age for gay men because, following a number of successful appeals, the European Court of Human Rights sees the difference in ages as a breach of two laws covering discrimination and respect for private life.

The proposition, which was lodged earlier this week, explains that there were three options open to the committee to make the matter human rights compliant.

It could recommend reducing the consent age for homosexuals to the same as for heterosexuals – 16 – raise the heterosexual age of consent to that of homosexuals – 18 – or make both consent ages 17.

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