The chairman of a parliamentary committee is to suggest the decriminalisation of sexual activity between minors aged 13 to 15.

Labour MP Etienne Grech, who chairs Parliament’s Standing Committee on Health, said he would raise the possibility during the next meeting of MPs who are discussing the lowering of the age of consent. It is currently illegal for people under 18 to engage in sexual activity.

If the age of consent is reduced to 16, sex between those below this age, however, would still be considered a criminal act at law. Also, an 18-year-old who has consensual sexual relations with a 15-year-old could still be charged with statutory rape.

“While engaging in sexual activity below 16 would remain illegal, decriminalisation could work in the same way as the decriminalisation for possessing small amounts of cannabis,” Dr Grech said.

But, he added, it would be important to have an “age banding” system in place: the partner must be no more than three to five years older than the minor or would still face criminal proceedings.

More in Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.

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