Bolivia's MAS-controlled congress approved a law on October 22, 2010, which lowers the de facto age of consent for sexual relations to 12, as long as the partners are no greater than three years apart in age, and there was no violence or intimidation involved.[1]. The specific language of this section of the new law — proposed by the president of the lower chamber, Héctor Arce, to reform the Penal Code with the intent of protecting children and adolescents from sexual aggression — is intended to exempt younger children from punishments intended for older persons having sexual relations with minors.
