The Swiss newspaper '24 Heures' publishes a story revealing the case of 16-year-old girls working legally as escort girls in Switzerland. Indeed, the Swiss legislation defines the age of sexual consent as 16-years-old. And unlike their neighbours who limit prostitution for people over 18-years-old, Swiss authorities have not yet elaborated a law on the subject. The report quotes a specialist of the Federal Office of Justice saying that "whoever reaches 16-years-old can have sexual intercourses with people of every age". Adding that "these intercourses  may or may not be lucrative, but must be consented by both parties".

Reacting to this situation, individuals and organizations are asking for a federal law to prevent teenager who are under 18 from prostitution. Even some people inside the sex industry are asking for it. The report quotes a woman who owns an escort agency and who says she is shocked that "more and more teenagers want to sell their body. And not even for necessity, but for luxury".

However, a change of legislation is in preparation: Switzerland must indeed ratify the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, which fixes the minimum ages for prostitution to 18-years-old. But because of the particularities of the Swiss democracy, that will probably take some time.

Read the original article (in French) here