'Age of sexual consent should be reduced to 16' – Labour whip

The age of consent in Malta should be reduced from 18 to 16-years-old, newly-appointed Labour Whip Godfrey Farrugia proposed.

Addressing Parliament during the time allocated for adjournments, Farrugia pointed out that Malta is the only European country where the age of consent is so high.

“The age of consent in all European countries except for Cyprus is between 14 and 16,” Farrugia pointed out. “Turkey is the only country geographically close to Europe where the age of consent is 18.

“The time has come to move ahead with the times, provide social justice to 16-17 year olds, and change this clause in the law that is causing suffering amongst youths in this age group, as well as their partners.”

“After all, 16-year-olds can work , marry and open a bank account, and parents no longer receive children’s allowance for 16-year-olds,” Farrugia pointed out. “Isn’t there some sort of contradiction here?”