部长称法国将修改法律，与15岁未成年人发生关系将自动视为强奸 [英国媒体]

France to change consent law so sex with 15-year-olds automatically considered rape, minister says

部长称法国将修改法律，与15岁未成年人发生关系将自动视为强奸



'What characterises a civilisation is also what is outlawed, and the ban on sexual relations of an adult with a child must exist'

“对于不合法行为的规定显现出一个文明的特征，成年人与儿童发生性关系的禁令必须存在。”

A feminist activist holds placards near the Justice ministry during a protest calling to change French statutory rape laws Reuters

在一次抗议活动中，一女权运动家在司法部附近举着标语牌，呼吁修改法国法定强奸罪的法律    （路透社）

France will change the law so that sex before the age of 15 is automatically considered rape, the country’s gender-equality minister has said.

法国性别平等部部长称，法国将修改法律，因此与15岁以下未成年人发生性关系将自动视为强奸。

The age of consent will be confirmed as 15, Marlene Schiappa has proposed – despite some backing for it being lowered to 13.

合法年龄将定为15岁，玛琳·席亚帕建议降至13岁，尽管前者也有一些支持者。

At the moment, prosecutors have to prove sex under that age was non-consensual to obtain a rape conviction, but that will change under the minister’s new Bill.

目前，检察机关必须证明该年龄以下的性行为是非自愿的才能定强奸罪，而部长提出的新法案将会改变这个局面。

The law would create a threshold, said Ms Schiappa, under which it would be considered the child had always been coerced.

席亚帕称，该法律将会产生一个限定范围，在该范围内将会视作儿童受到了胁迫。

“I think we must reaffirm the existing law that sets the age of sexual majority at 15, and make sure that there are trials for rape and not for sex assault,” she said.

她说：“我认为我们必须重申现存的法律将性行为主体的年龄定为15岁，并确定是以强奸而不是性侵犯的罪名审判。”

If the child was under 15, the new law would put the onus on the adult to prove the minor gave consent, instead of expecting the victim to prove they were coerced, threatened or surprised.

如果事件中的儿童年龄为15岁以下，新法规定成年人有责任证明未成年人出于自愿，而不是让受害者提供自己被强迫、威胁或恐吓的证据。

The reform is part of new legislation cracking down on sexual aggression such as street harassment.

本次修改是新立法的一部分，旨在打击如街头骚扰等性攻击行为。

It comes after a case in which a man of 29 who had sex with an 11-year-old girl was acquitted of rape because there was no evidence that she was coerced. 

在此之前曾发生一起案件，一名29岁的男子与一名11岁的女孩发生关系，由于缺乏女孩受到胁迫的证据，该男子强奸罪名无法成立，最后无罪释放。

“What characterises a civilisation is also what is outlawed,” the minister said. “The ban on incest must exist and the ban on sexual relations of an adult with a child must exist.”

“对于不合法行为的规定显现出一个文明的特征，”该部长说道，“近亲通婚的禁令必须存在，成年人与儿童发生性关系的禁令也必须存在。 ”

A debate over the age of consent has been heated for several months, with some, including Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet, suggesting it be set at 13. 

关于同意性行为的合法年龄的激烈争论已经持续数月，包括司法部部长妮可·贝罗贝特在内的一部分人提议将其设为13岁。

President Emmanuel Macron has said he favours setting the limit at 15.

法国总统埃马纽埃尔·马克龙称他支持将年龄限定为15岁。

“The Bill will contain a clause stating an age limit below which it will always be deemed that a child was forced,” the minister told French weekly magazine l'Obs.

部长告诉法国周刊 l'Obs：“该法案将包含一项设立年龄限制的条款，在该年龄以下则认为儿童受到胁迫”。

It will be presented to parliament for approval after being considered by the cabinet on Wednesday. 

周三法案经内阁审查后将提交至国会审议。

In the UK, the age of consent is 16 and in court there is “an irrefutable presumption of an absence of consent” in such cases.

在英国，可同意性行为的合法年龄为16岁，在法庭中对于此类案件“在缺少同意上有一个无可辩驳的推定”。