What does the Age of Consent mean?

Answer 1

The age of consent is a Law that says how old you have to be before you can legally consent to have sex. It may also apply to getting tattoos, piercings, and other adult references. In some States, the age of consent can be as low as 14 for some purposes. In many others it is 17 or 18 years of age. Always refer to the law of the State or foreign Country in which your activities take place. (The world average age is 16).

Every State and Country has an Age of Consent (AOC) Law.

• In the US, UK, Canada and Australia, the lowest AOC is 16.
• In some other places the AOC is 15, 14, 13 or even 12.
• In some places you can marry below the AOC, and married sex would be legal.

So if you are younger than the AOC in your area, then you can't legally consent.

• It doesn't matter if you agree
• It doesn't matter if it's consensual (you both agree)
• It doesn't matter who started it
• It doesn't matter if your parents agree
• It doesn't matter if you want to be engaged
• It doesn't matter if you have a child.

If you are under the AOC and a person above the AOC has sex with you then they will be breaking the law.

If both of you are under the AOC, there may be special laws in your area. You might be charged with some offence and end up in the Juvenile Justice System. You might be declared "at risk" and put in a foster home.

Statutory Rape:This is the term used in the US for when two people have sex, and one is under the AOC and the other is over the AOC. Every country has a similar law, and the older person is likely to go to jail for some years and have a criminal record for the rest of their life.

Some places have extra laws saying that "it is a defence" if the older one is only 2 or 3 or 4 years older. That means that maybe the older person won't be treated so severely.

Some places (like Canada) have laws saying that if you are 12 or 13, then you cannot be prosecuted if you have sex with a person less than 2 years older than yourself. If you are 14 or 15, then you cannot be prosecuted if you have sex with a person less than 5 years older than yourself. These are clauses to the main law, and it means statutory Rape laws would not be used in these instances.

Some places have laws making the AOC higher if the older person has custody or charge over the younger one (e.g. a parent, teacher, or guardian). This means it is a more serious offense.

In The US the citizen must abide by their local State law when traveling interstate or abroad, therefore they will not be able to use the law elsewhere where the law allows a younger AOC. This is to cut sexual predators moving around and escaping prosecution.

You need to know the AOC in your country:If you are in an illegal, under-age relationship, then there are some things you have to do and know:

• Get out of the relationship.
• Many places have laws that require doctors and nurses to report any under-age sex and parents to the police.
• You must find out the AOC laws in your area and if there are any age clauses.
• If there is a Legal Aid office in your town, or some free Legal Advice clinic (check the phone book and the internet), you can phone or visit and get free advice without giving your personal details.
• Click the Related link below "Age of Consent" for more information.

Legal age of Consent in the UK:The whole of the UK is now combined in it's AOC laws bringing it into equal line. This means Heterosexual and Homosexual sex has the AOC set at 16.

Sex is only legal when both people are able to legally consent. Everyone has the right to say no to sex, and should never feel pressured into sexual activity.

For more information on your own Country or State for AOC please check out the Related link below.