Hotcod
09-23-2009, 08:11 AM
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/call-for-age-of-sex-to-be-cut/story-e6frf00i-1225778209661
A BBC program is going to debate the idea that the age of consent in the UK should be lowered to 13, like it is in Spain. It's a really interesting subject that has some really tricky issues to be dealt with. The main arguments against a drop are 2 fold, firstly teenage pregnancy in the UK is still on the rise and secondly you have to protect young people from abuse by adults.
The first argument is an odd one, if the age of consent was a factor then rates would not be rising and if we raised the age to 18 they would drop. Which is frankly a bit of a silly naive idea. My mother worked at a high level on the governments program to reduce teenage pregnancy and the age of consent really isn't even something the kids who are getting pregnant care about. What ever the ages of consent it's simply not going to make a difference but it does stop criminalizing young people and might allows for better education on the subject in school and at home.
That said i don't really see the point, undera ge kids having sex with under age kids is not something that gets prosecute as far as i know and school are already teaching sex ed at a young age and underage people can get help and advice and free condoms if they want. I believe underage girls can be given the pill.
So why lowering the age would really do nothing to effect teenage pregnancy rates it would also change very little in terms of what is already being done to try and lower them. Given that it's mostly not a law that is enforced when it comes to under age kids having sex anyway then you have to look at the second argument.
Which is the protection of young people from abuse by adults. It's when older people have sex with under age ones that the law starts to have any useful effect and it's there that it's enforced and to me that makes sense. A 13 year old, to me, is far to vulnerable to manipulation by an older person. I don't see the point of 16 year old being done for sleeping with there 15 year old girl friend but when you have much older people there is a problem. If you are in your 20s and your dating a 15 year old you, as the older more mature person, have a responsibility to look after the younger. That the reason most people in the 20s would date some one 15 years old is counter to that is exactly why the age of consent need to be where it is.
I think the only thing that needs to happen is for a judge and police to have much grater discretion in enforcing the law. In that a 16 and 15 year old who have been going out for years who are found to be having sex could be let off but a 30 year old sleeping with a 15 year old will be able to be prosecuted to the fullest existent that can be managed.
The simple fact is that it's all relative and subjective and one hard and fast rule isn't that useful. Discretion in the use of a law whos main gaol is to protect young people not punish them is the key here. And i think 16 is the most useful place to set the boundaries.
What do you guys think? i know most sates in the US make it 18 which in my eyes is really stupid but the whole debate is an interesting one.
A BBC program is going to debate the idea that the age of consent in the UK should be lowered to 13, like it is in Spain. It's a really interesting subject that has some really tricky issues to be dealt with. The main arguments against a drop are 2 fold, firstly teenage pregnancy in the UK is still on the rise and secondly you have to protect young people from abuse by adults.
The first argument is an odd one, if the age of consent was a factor then rates would not be rising and if we raised the age to 18 they would drop. Which is frankly a bit of a silly naive idea. My mother worked at a high level on the governments program to reduce teenage pregnancy and the age of consent really isn't even something the kids who are getting pregnant care about. What ever the ages of consent it's simply not going to make a difference but it does stop criminalizing young people and might allows for better education on the subject in school and at home.
That said i don't really see the point, undera ge kids having sex with under age kids is not something that gets prosecute as far as i know and school are already teaching sex ed at a young age and underage people can get help and advice and free condoms if they want. I believe underage girls can be given the pill.
So why lowering the age would really do nothing to effect teenage pregnancy rates it would also change very little in terms of what is already being done to try and lower them. Given that it's mostly not a law that is enforced when it comes to under age kids having sex anyway then you have to look at the second argument.
Which is the protection of young people from abuse by adults. It's when older people have sex with under age ones that the law starts to have any useful effect and it's there that it's enforced and to me that makes sense. A 13 year old, to me, is far to vulnerable to manipulation by an older person. I don't see the point of 16 year old being done for sleeping with there 15 year old girl friend but when you have much older people there is a problem. If you are in your 20s and your dating a 15 year old you, as the older more mature person, have a responsibility to look after the younger. That the reason most people in the 20s would date some one 15 years old is counter to that is exactly why the age of consent need to be where it is.
I think the only thing that needs to happen is for a judge and police to have much grater discretion in enforcing the law. In that a 16 and 15 year old who have been going out for years who are found to be having sex could be let off but a 30 year old sleeping with a 15 year old will be able to be prosecuted to the fullest existent that can be managed.
The simple fact is that it's all relative and subjective and one hard and fast rule isn't that useful. Discretion in the use of a law whos main gaol is to protect young people not punish them is the key here. And i think 16 is the most useful place to set the boundaries.
What do you guys think? i know most sates in the US make it 18 which in my eyes is really stupid but the whole debate is an interesting one.