The report, delivered this morning by the Corporate Services Panel, says that Jersey’s different ages of consent for straight and gay couples – 16 for heterosexuals and 18 for homosexuals – are in breach of the Island’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.
States Members will debate the Draft Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 200- on 25 April.
Debate was suspended for the scrutiny review in January.
Members were told today by the panel – chaired by Deputy Pat Ryan – that there was ‘no alternative’ but to approve the legislation, proposed by Home Affairs Minister Wendy Kinnard.
But they say the States should wait until ‘abuse of trust’ legislation comes into effect, to protect young people from sexual exploitation by older adults, regardless of ages of consent.
