Against the Stream: lowering the age of sexual consent

Abstract

Regarding cognitive and emotional maturity, while those aged 14 to 16 may be able to recognise the risks of sexual activity, as he points out himself, their ability to evaluate the risks can be compromised by other factors.1 Life experience and perspective are also imperative when making potentially life-changing decisions; an extra two years in adolescence is a significant amount of time. Worse still is the risk of greater difficulties in prosecuting cases of vulnerable children involved in prostitution, sex abuse rings or forced marriage. [...]I see no compelling argument to lower the age of consent; we should instead be taking inspiration from other countries like France that are strengthening their existing inadequate laws. 1 Steinberg L. Does recent research on adolescent brain development inform the mature minor doctrine? J Med Philos 2013; 38: 256 –67.