Incest Prohibition

As part of its plenary meeting, the German Ethics Council is holding a public hearing on the topic of “Incest Prohibition”. This hearing addresses potential punishments under Section 173 of the German Criminal Code, insofar as it criminalises consensual incest among biological relatives of full age and capable of giving consent.

The discussion will focus on the question of the extent to which – based on an interdisciplinary assessment and considering legislative and legal policy options – there is still a need today to criminalise consensual sexual intercourse between biological relatives of full age. Ethical, legal-political, psychosocial and societal aspects will be considered.