What is the age of consent, and what does it mean for you and your partner?

[TeenHelp]

What is the age of consent, and what does it mean for you and your partner?
By Bex (Eclectic.)

Defining the Age of Consent
The age of consent is defined as the age at which a person's consent to sexual intercourse is valid in the eyes of the law. This separates them from being a minor because they are now officially an adult who can consent to sex in his or her own right. When an adult has sex with a minor—even if the minor has consented to having sex—it is called statutory rape. The statutory rape law is in place to protect children, who the judicial system and many others believe they cannot make a sound decision when it comes to sex. This is different from rape, which can involve one person of any age who does not consent to sexual advances.

Now that you are an adult
When one reaches the age of consent, the rules of sex changes drastically beginning with the legal implications. If one person within a mutual relationship is with a minor, then they are risking themselves to being charged with statutory rape. Again, statutory rape is when someone over the age of consent (an adult, the age varies by country) has sexual intercourse with someone below the age of consent (a minor, the age varies by country). The law is in place to protect children, who the judicial system and many others believe they cannot make a sound decision, especially when it comes to sexual relationships.

Age of Consent in Selected Areas
The age of consent varies by territories, states, provinces, and countries as a whole. This is based on the expected maturity and capability of a minor. The only countries that do not have an age of consent have a marriage law in place instead when it comes to sexual relationships.

North America
Canada sets the Age of Consent at 16, this is applicable in all the provinces and territories.

The United States has laws on statutory rape and when one reaches the age of consent at the national and state level. For instance, in my state it is 16, however, it is 18 when it comes to laws regarding statutory rape.

Here is a list of US States and their age of consent:

• The Age of Consent is sixteen in 31 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.
• The Age of Consent is seventeen in 8 states: Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Texas, and Wyoming.
• The Age of Consent is eighteen in 12 states: Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

In Mexico, the laws regarding the age of consent and statutory rape is a bit more complex. The federal law establishes 12 as the minimum age of consent. However, between the ages of 12-18, one can still be persecuted under special circumstances.

Europe
In the United Kingdom, the Age of Consent is set at 16, while the Republic of Ireland sets the Age of Consent at 17. The Republic is one of two countries in Europe that sets it above the age of 16, the other being Turkey. The Age of Consent in Turkey is 18. Most countries in Central Europe sets the Age of Consent at 15, while a few sets it at 14. Spain sets the Age of Consent at 13.

South America
The Age of Consent varies by jurisdiction in South America. As it is more strictly Catholic, especially in Brazil, they have strict laws regarding same-sex relationships. However, Brazil has no law about same-sex sexual intercourse, which means it is legal. The age at which two males can partake in sexual intercourse is higher than the age of consent for sexual intercourse involving two people of the opposite sex. The minimum age of consent is 13, which is in Argentina, while the highest is 16 in Guyana.

Africa
The Age of Consent varies by jurisdiction in Africa. The minimum age of consent is 12, in Angola. However, there are exceptions to the laws regarding the Age of Consent in Angola, which states if one is older than 15, they can still be persecuted even if the younger person is above 12. Zimbabwe is the only country that includes same-sex relationship in its legal excerpt, and the age of consent is the same all around for opposite sex and same sex parties. The countries that are predominantly Islam strictly prohibit sexual intercourse outside marriage.

Asia
The Age of Consent varies by jurisdiction in Asia. Some Asian countries, particularly those in West Asia, prohibit sexual intercourse outside marriage. The marrying age in a lot of these countries is the onset of puberty, which has been subject to controversy in recent years.

Oceania
The Age of Consent varies by jurisdiction in Australia, New Zealand, and the islands of Oceania. In Australia, each state and territory has jurisdiction over the Age of Consent, but there are federal laws in place as well. Most of Australia's states and territories sets the Age of Consent at 16, with the exception of South Australia and Tasmania. These states sets it at the age of 17.

Information on the Age of Consent around the world and details concerning it can be found here.

* All data is accurate as of June 1, 2015