Spain raises age of consent from 13 to 16

Spain is to raise the age of consent from 13 to 16 and the minimum age for marriage from 14 to 16.
The change was agreed unanimously in principle by parliament in 2009 under the previous government and is expected to come into force this month.
Adults who have sex with underage children now face from two to six years in prison and up to 12 years if they have performed oral or penetrative sex.
An exception is made in the case of consensual sex with someone under 16 “when the other party is of a similar age or stage of development and maturity”, a loose concept that judges will have to define on a case-by-case basis.