Age Of Consent Climbs To 16

In a move they’ve been promising since their election, the Conservative government Thursday announced a rise in the age of sexual consent. It’s now 16. Since 1982, Canadians needed to be 14 years of age to legally give consent to sexual acts.

It’s part of the ” Tackling Violent Crimes Act” introduced by the Tories a year ago. The act contains a “close-in-age” exemption for anyone within a five year range, provided the youngest party is at least 14.

For example, a 14-year-old can consent to intercourse with a 19-year-old, but not a person in their 20s; unless the older person is in a position of trust or authority.

Existing married couples, or those with relationships equivalent to marriage, will be exempt from the new law.

The act will maintain the age of protection at 18, which disallows any sexual activity involving prostitution, pornography, or exploitation through a relationship of trust or authority.

All political parties back the legislation, but some child advocates said the law needed careful explanation.

Martha Mackinnon, of Justice for Youth and Children, could make teens reluctant to talk about sex, for fear they are doing something illegal.

“Because its highly technical and quite complicated I think that we need an awful lot of public education to make sure young people…don’t hide and fail to seek the medical help they need and fail to get appropriate treatments and appropriate counselling,” she said.

The act has also drawn ire from gay rights’ groups, who protest the government’s restrictions on anal sex. It’s currently illegal for Canadians under 18 to have anal sex, meaning two gay or bisexual 17-year-olds who engage in the act could end up in jail.

Government Introduces Bill To Raise Age Of Consent

Tory Throne Speech Vows To Cut Crime And Taxes, But Will It Force An Election?

Read The Entire Tackling Violent Crime Act here

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Age of Consent Around the World

Albania: 14

Algeria: 16

Argentina: 13 for males, 16 for females

Australia: 16 or 17 depending on the region

 

Bahamas: 16

Barbados: 16

Belarus: 16 for males, 18 for females.

Belgium: 16

Belize: 16

Bermuda: 16

Bolivia: 16 for males, 14 for females

Bosnia: 16

Brazil: 14 for males, 18 for females

Bulgaria: 14 males, 15 females

 

Cambodia: 16

Chile: 14

China: 14

Colombia: 14

Costa Rica: 15 for males, 16 for females

Croatia: 14

Cuba: 16

Cyprus: 17

Czech Republic: 15

 

Demark: 15

Dominican Republic: 18

 

Egypt: 18

El Salvador: 16

England (Includes Scotland and Wales): 16

Ethiopia: 15

 

Fiji: 16

Finland: 16

France: 15

 

Germany: 14 for males, 16 for females

Grenada: 17

Guam: 16

Guatemala: 18

Guyana: 15

 

Haiti: 18

Honduras: 14 for males, 17 for females

Hungary: 14

 

Iceland: 14

India: 16

Indonesia: 17

Iran: 17 for males, 14 for females

Iraq: 18

Ireland: 17

Israel: 16

Italy: 14

 

Jamaica: 16

Japan: 13, but prefecture law raises it to 18.

Jordan: 16

 

Kenya: 16

Latvia: 16

Lithuania: 16

Luxembourg: 16

 

Mexico: 12-18, varies by region

Monaco: 15

Morocco: 15

 

Namibia: 16

Nepal: 16

Netherlands: 16

New Zealand: 16

Nigeria: 13

Northern Ireland: 17

Norway: 16

 

Peru: 14

Poland: 15

 

Romania: 15

Russia: 16

 

Singapore: 16

South Africa: 16

South Korea: 13

Spain: 13

Sri Lanka: 16

Sweden: 15

Switzerland: 16

Syria: 14 for males, 15 for females

 

Taiwan: 16

Tanzania: 15

Thailand: 15

Togo: 14

Trinidad & Tobago: 16

Tunisia: 20

Turkey: 18

 

Uganda: 18

Ukraine: 16

United Arab Emirates: 18

Uruguay: 12 for males, 15 for females

 

Venezuela: 16

Vietnam: 18

Source: Avert U.K.