The Malta Medical Students’ Association is closely observing developments in the discussion on the proposed changes in the legal age of consent for sexual activities in Malta.
As the leading body representing all the medical students studying in our island, the MMSA recognises the social changes which the Maltese community is going through. This recognition is further strengthened by our continuous contact with patients and with the medical profession.

As an association we also recognise the legal discrepancies in the age of consent for sexual activities, which currently stands at 18 years, and the legal age of marriage, which currently stand at 16 years of age.
We feel that this discrepancy is unacceptable in today’s social framework and should be immediately addressed and rectified by our parliamentary members.
The MMSA also gladly recognises that pressure on this subject is being put forth by a General Practitioner, that is, a member of the medical professional community in Malta, and an ex-Health Minister.
As medical students, we believe that lowering the legal age of consent from 18 to 16 years will aid medical professionals in managing their patients, allowing doctors to build a richer relationship with their patients based on a more open approach to sexual health.
Such a change in our legal infrastructure will allow our country to conform to a social reality which has become self-evident and will also prove beneficial to doctors when giving contraceptive advice.
We believe that the regularisation of this inequity in the Maltese legal system will prove of paramount benefit to the Maltese community and our approach to holistic sexual health.