Age of Consent- Index
Note: My articles urging an age of consent of 14 are motivated solely by a desire to reduce the criminalisation of under-16s who have consenting relationships with other young people of similar ages. I do not support adults having sex with children. But if they do have sex before their 16th birthday, they should not be arrested, given a criminal record and put on the sex offenders register. Perhaps the ideal solution would be that the age of consent remains at 16 but that sexual behaviour involving young people under 16 should not be criminalised, providing there is informed consent, no one is harmed and there is no more than two or three years difference in their ages. This would end the criminalisation of similar-aged young people, while protecting the under-16s against sexual abuse by those much older. I hope this reassures you - Peter Tatchell |
| Furore over sex abuse & consent at 13 Reform the prosecution of child abuse allegations? | td>
| Under-age sex: Statement of clarification by Peter Tatchell Adults should not have sex with children. I do not condone paedophilia |
| An age of consent of 14? Sexual human rights for the under-16s |
| Don’t criminalise young sex - Education, not criminalisation The criminalisation of consenting under-age sex is a form of child abuse |
| Lowering the unrealistic age of consent will help teenagers The criminalisation of teen sex inhibits advice and protection |
| Sex abuse - calls for a British Megan's Law miss the point Empowering young people is the best protection against abuse |
| Amnesty bid for gay sex "offenders" Homophobic bias of the Sex Offenders Register challenged |
| Age of Consent bill flawed The bill equalising the age of consent is repressive, draconian and undermines basic human rights. |
| Sex rights for the under-16s Young people under 16 have sexual rights too. |
| I'm 14, I'm gay & I want a boyfriend Fourteen year old Lee tells about first sex, boyfriends, coming out, paedophilia, and why an age of consent of 16 won't help under-age gays like him. |
| Consent at 14 OutRage! advocates an age of consent of 14 for everyone, both gay and straight. |
| Consent at 16: protection or persecution Young people under 16 have a right to make their own sexual choices without being victimised by the law. |
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