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French Equality Minister Marlène Schiappa has welcomed a move by the country which aims to fix the legal age of sexual consent as 15, making sex between an adult and someone of that age and below to be considered as rape. The move by France follows advice from doctors and legal experts.

Current legislation considers such as only sexual abuse which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of €75,000 (£66,000; $87,000). Prosecutors must have to prove that the sexual encounter was forced before it can bring rape charges against the offenders as rape conviction carries a much harsher punishments.

The uproar over two recent cases of men accused of having sex with 11-year-old girls has led to this changes being considered. A study has revealed that one out of eight French women has been raped. The study also reveals that 43% have been subjected to sexual touching without their consent.

The new age limit is set to be approved by the government in a couple of weeks as part of package of other laws against sexual violence and harassment after discussing whether to set the age as 13 or 15, which is what groups fighting violence against children had campaigned for.

Ms Schiappa told AFP news agency that her ministry was "very glad" that the higher age was chosen. President Emmanuel Macron also supports the limit. 

According to a report by Le Figaro newspaper, Minister of Solidarity and Health, Agnès Buzyn has said that by setting a legal age of sexual consent, it would allow for a "collective awareness" and that it would also become clear, what was "legal and illegal" to everyone. 

Last November, a french court acquitted a 30-year-old rape after it determined that his 11-year-old victim had not been subjected to "constraint, threat, violence or surprise".

In another case, after initially saying a 28-year-old man would face charges of sexual assault, and not rape, because the victim was not physically forced to have sex, the same court later reversed its decision last month, saying the accused should indeed face rape charges.