Iceland
Iceland's Children's Affairs Minister resigns after admitting she had a child with a teen 30 years ago
Iceland's Minister for Education and Children’s Affairs, Asthildur Loa Thorsdottir, has resigned from her position after admitting that she had a relationship with a 15-year-old which resulted in the birth of her child more than 30 years ago.
Asthildur Loa Thorsdottir recently told the Icelandic media outlet Visir that she was in a relationship with the teen when she was 22 years old.\
She said she worked as a counsellor with a religious group at that time.
Asthildur Loa Thorsdottir said she gave birth to the child when she 23.
"It's been 36 years, a lot of things have changed in that time and I would definitely have dealt with these issues differently today," the 58-year-old told Visir.
The former Minister named the the teen boy with whom she had a relationship as Eirík Ásmundsson.
The child's father says that, at first, he was allowed to have contact with his son, but by the time the child was less than a year old, almost all access was cut off, RUV English news agency reported.
The father reportedly claimed he needed to pay child support.
In Iceland, a person in a position of authority, including teachers and mentors, is forbidden to sexually engage with minors under 18 years of age.
As per the Icelandic General Penal Code, such an offence carries a maximum sentence of three years.
Political scientists told RUV that it was the right decision for Asthildur Loa to resign.
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