Louise Camilleri (University of Malta) delivering her presentation at the MSPF’s first session.

The Malta Student Psychology Forum (MSPF) launched its first session by discussing the much disputed topic of the age of sexual consent.

The session addressed whether the legal age of consent in Malta should be reduced from the age of 18 to 16 following recent talks by experts last spring to reduce the age to provide youngsters with legal protection.

The students presented their research on the issue, making reference to the pressurisation of young people into having sex, as well as cognitive development in adolescence.

The participants questioned whether the age of consent for men and women should differ since women generally mature faster than men and whether, if a referendum had to take place on the age of consent, a maximum or minimum age should be put in place.

Dora Marossy (St Edwards College) delivering her presentation.

The discussion centred around Malta being one of the few remaining countries in Europe, besides the Vatican, to hold the legal age of consent at 18. The students consequently asked why the age of consent varies in different countries and continued to discuss the topic further with the guest judge even after the session had ended.

KSU Social Policy Commissioner Robert Napier said in his keynote speech that they are working to introduce workshops for parents of teens in the light of complaints that the syllabus taught to children was not communicated to the parents.

The event forms part of a series of sessions organised by the National Student Travel Foundation (NSTF) and the University of Malta’s Psychology Students’ Organisation (BetaPsi) to train participants in research and public speaking, among other skills. Those interested in sponsoring or taking part in any of the events should visit http://www.nstfmalta.eu/.