Temporary Disabled. :) please Go back Sex, the Law and Young People www.fgks.org » Address: [go: up one dir, main page] Include Form Remove Scripts Accept Cookies Show Images Show Referer Rotate13 Base64 Strip Meta Strip Title Session Cookies International HIV & AIDS charity DonateFundraising About Us Our Partners Help & Advice Contact Us Facebook Linked in Twitter Newsletter Copyright © AVERT skip to menu Sex, the Law and Young People back to top Know the law around sex It seems to many teens that adults are always making a big deal about people having sex under the age of consent. Many young people think that if they feel ready to have sex and they use protection, it is nothing to do with anyone else. But everyone needs to know what the law says about having sex and why we have laws about sex at all! back to top So what does the age of consent mean? The age of consent is the age when the law says you are mature enough to be able to agree to have sex. In most countries, until you reach this age you can't legally have sex with anyone, however old they are, even if you want to. Sometimes the law is slightly different when the partners are of a similar age, but there is usually still a minimum age below which sex is always illegal. back to top But our parents say it's okay. . . That doesn't make any difference - your parents don't make the law. Teens can't get around the laws for smoking, drinking or driving because their parents say so, and it's the same with sex. The age of consent laws always apply; whether you're in love, have been together for ages, and even if you've had sex before. back to top But it's no-one else's business. Why do we have these laws? Although some young people are mature enough to know how to deal with it if someone tries to get them to have sex, many teens are not grown up enough to know what to do. Age of consent laws are there to protect young people from being exploited by adults. back to top What is the age of consent? What the age of consent is depends on where you live - there are different age limits in different places, and in some places the age of consent is different for boys and for girls. The law can also change depending on how old your partner is, and whether they are in a ‘position of authority’ – for example a teacher. To find out about the age of consent in your country or state, please see our age of consent chart. back to top Is the age of consent different if you’re straight, lesbian, gay or have another sexual identity? Yes. In some countries, the age of consent for gay men and lesbians is much older than for straight people. In other places gay and lesbian relationships are actually against the law – though many countries are beginning to change this, as people of different sexualities demand their rights. It’s especially important to know about age of consent laws before you travel abroad. To find out about your area and around the world, check our age of consent chart. back to top What is 'statutory rape'? If you are under the age of consent and you choose to have sex with someone who is over the age of consent, then they can be charged with the crime of 'statutory rape'. Some countries have different names for this crime, and some states in the US call it 'unlawful sexual penetration' or just 'rape'. back to top And what's sexual abuse? This is when a person is pressured into any type of sexual contact that they do not agree to. This can include ‘direct abuse’, such as inappropriate kissing, fondling of a persons genitals or other area of their body that they wouldn’t want to be touched, or when a person is made to touch another person in a way that they are not comfortable with. It can also include ‘indirect abuse’ which includes a person knowing that another person is being mistreated, but not doing anything about it.1 If you know anyone who is being pressurised in this way, you should tell an adult who you trust about what's going on. Many countries have ‘Telephone Helplines’ that can give you advice and information about what you should do and who you should contact. back to top What about ‘forced marriage’? A forced marriage is where one or both partners have not or cannot give their consent to getting married. This shouldn’t be confused with ‘arranged marriage’ where parents or family arrange a marriage, but both partners decide whether they want to get married or not. Forced marriage is against the law in many countries, and it is a human rights violation under international law. Child marriage is considered to be forced marriage, because children are not considered capable of making an informed decision.2 3 See the Forced Marriage Unit for more help and advice, and if you or somebody you know is currently at risk of forced marriage or has been forced to marry, ask them to put you in touch with an organisation in your current country who can help you. back to top Know your sexual rights! It's really important to know the laws that are in place to protect you. If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed on this page, talk to an adult that you trust, or get in touch with an advice organisation. email print tweet more Where Next? AVERT.org has more about: Teens The legal age of consent around the world Am I ready for sex? Condoms Back to top Sign up to our Newsletter Donate References back to top NDSU (2008) 'Talking to Children About Sexual Abuse' FCO (2011) 'What is a forced marriage?' 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More than 2,400 young people are newly infected with HIV every day, accounting for 40% of new adult infections. Involving youth in the HIV response is key to lowering new HIV infections among the next generation and the role of technology in doing this is now clearer than ever. A sneak preview of results from an AVERT survey, due to be released on International Youth Day 2013 - 12 August, show that most young people prefer to get their sexual health and HIV/AIDS information online or via mobile, as it's quicker, confidential and cheap. But not all youth are the same, we've found regional variations in the type of technology young people prefer - with 67% of respondents from Africa using mobile phones for health information, compared to just 31% in Europe. To commemorate International Youth Day 2013 - 12 August, share your experiences with others by sending AVERT your story. Raise HIV awareness among youth, check out the hints, tips and quizzes below and share them with your friends. 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It seems to many teens that adults are always making a big deal about people having sex under the age of consent. Many young people think that if they feel ready to have sex and they use protection, it is nothing to do with anyone else. But everyone needs to know what the law says about having sex and why we have laws about sex at all!
The age of consent is the age when the law says you are mature enough to be able to agree to have sex. In most countries, until you reach this age you can't legally have sex with anyone, however old they are, even if you want to. Sometimes the law is slightly different when the partners are of a similar age, but there is usually still a minimum age below which sex is always illegal.
That doesn't make any difference - your parents don't make the law. Teens can't get around the laws for smoking, drinking or driving because their parents say so, and it's the same with sex. The age of consent laws always apply; whether you're in love, have been together for ages, and even if you've had sex before.
Although some young people are mature enough to know how to deal with it if someone tries to get them to have sex, many teens are not grown up enough to know what to do. Age of consent laws are there to protect young people from being exploited by adults.
What the age of consent is depends on where you live - there are different age limits in different places, and in some places the age of consent is different for boys and for girls. The law can also change depending on how old your partner is, and whether they are in a ‘position of authority’ – for example a teacher. To find out about the age of consent in your country or state, please see our age of consent chart.
Yes. In some countries, the age of consent for gay men and lesbians is much older than for straight people. In other places gay and lesbian relationships are actually against the law – though many countries are beginning to change this, as people of different sexualities demand their rights. It’s especially important to know about age of consent laws before you travel abroad.
To find out about your area and around the world, check our age of consent chart.
If you are under the age of consent and you choose to have sex with someone who is over the age of consent, then they can be charged with the crime of 'statutory rape'. Some countries have different names for this crime, and some states in the US call it 'unlawful sexual penetration' or just 'rape'.
This is when a person is pressured into any type of sexual contact that they do not agree to. This can include ‘direct abuse’, such as inappropriate kissing, fondling of a persons genitals or other area of their body that they wouldn’t want to be touched, or when a person is made to touch another person in a way that they are not comfortable with. It can also include ‘indirect abuse’ which includes a person knowing that another person is being mistreated, but not doing anything about it.1 If you know anyone who is being pressurised in this way, you should tell an adult who you trust about what's going on.
Many countries have ‘Telephone Helplines’ that can give you advice and information about what you should do and who you should contact.
A forced marriage is where one or both partners have not or cannot give their consent to getting married. This shouldn’t be confused with ‘arranged marriage’ where parents or family arrange a marriage, but both partners decide whether they want to get married or not.
Forced marriage is against the law in many countries, and it is a human rights violation under international law. Child marriage is considered to be forced marriage, because children are not considered capable of making an informed decision.2 3 See the Forced Marriage Unit for more help and advice, and if you or somebody you know is currently at risk of forced marriage or has been forced to marry, ask them to put you in touch with an organisation in your current country who can help you.
It's really important to know the laws that are in place to protect you. If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed on this page, talk to an adult that you trust, or get in touch with an advice organisation.
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Play our games to test your knowledge and skills, while learning new facts. See how much you know about HIV/AIDS and sexual health, with our AIDS Game, Sex Education Game, Pregnancy Game and Condom Game. Use your mouse to collect the right letters while avoiding the baddies for a chance to appear on our HI-scores table.
Give our games a try now, and see how well you can do!
Our media gallery contains hundreds of HIV and AIDS related photos, videos and graphics. You can have a look around, use the search feature, or take a look at some photo selections.
Try our quizzes to test your knowledge on all aspects of sexual health and HIV and AIDS. We have a Sex Quiz, Pregnancy Quiz, Condom Quiz and an HIV and AIDS Quiz.
Just a beginner? Then try the quizzes' easy levels. Think you're an expert? Well try the hard quizzes.
I went through kind of a phase shift from just getting feelings towards this one guy, to be being confused and feeling kind of bi... - Submitted by Wesley Read more >>
Giving young people a platform to share their thoughts and experiences raises awareness among their peers and gives an invaluable insight into the needs of this high-risk group. More than 2,400 young people are newly infected with HIV every day, accounting for 40% of new adult infections.
Involving youth in the HIV response is key to lowering new HIV infections among the next generation and the role of technology in doing this is now clearer than ever.
A sneak preview of results from an AVERT survey, due to be released on International Youth Day 2013 - 12 August, show that most young people prefer to get their sexual health and HIV/AIDS information online or via mobile, as it's quicker, confidential and cheap. But not all youth are the same, we've found regional variations in the type of technology young people prefer - with 67% of respondents from Africa using mobile phones for health information, compared to just 31% in Europe.
To commemorate International Youth Day 2013 - 12 August, share your experiences with others by sending AVERT your story. Raise HIV awareness among youth, check out the hints, tips and quizzes below and share them with your friends.