Age of consent
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The age of consent is a legal definition of the age at which an individual is deemed sufficiently mature to be able to consent to sex. Consent given by individuals below that age is not valid, and the sexual act is seen as rape, usually called statutory rape.
The age varies wildly across the world ranging from twelve in Angola[1] to over twenty one in Bahrain[2]. In Europe it ranges from 13 in Spain to 18 in Malta and Turkey. In the US of A it varies state by state within the range sixteen to eighteen.[3]
[edit] The Grey areas
While far from universal, there are several areas where statutory rape is treated more or less severely. Typically these are
- When both partners are of a similar age (often called Romeo and Juliet laws)[4]
- Where the partners are legally married. Note that this implies
- that the age for marriage and the age of consent are not necessarily the same. Brunei is an example of this
- that the marriage laws 'trump' the age of consent laws.
- Where there is a position of trust. For example, in Britain the age of consent is sixteen but rises to eighteen in teacher/pupil relationships[5]
[edit] References
- ↑ widely reported but this source says 14
- ↑ but, as ever, it's not that straightforward
- ↑ http://www.ageofconsent.us/
- ↑ This article discusses R&J laws from a US perspective
- ↑ see paragraph 16
http://www.webistry.net/jan/consent.html
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