Swiss to close loophole on underage prostitution

Switzerland is moving to close a legal loophole that has allowed prostitution of minors as young as 16 to go unpunished in the country.

The Swiss government says it has started consultations with parliament on a law to punish clients who visit underage prostitutes with up to three years imprisonment.

Switzerland is one of the few countries in Europe where paying 16 and 17-year-olds for sex is legal.

The proposed law also criminalizes encouraging of underage prostitution with a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment and tightens existing rules on child pornography.

The government said in a statement Thursday the new law would bring Switzerland in conformity with the European Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.

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