This week, the Prime Minister revealed that he does not back the age of consent being lowered to 15, a move suggested by Faculty of Public Health president Professor John Ashton. According to Prof. Ashton, this move may mean that girls of 15 will find it easier to seek advice from the NHS. Some may think that this move will encourage 'promiscuity' but could a more open attitude mean more teenagers will be clued up and teenage pregnancy may lower? Nick Clegg also spoke out against this move, saying that he agrees sex education should be updated "but this is not the answer". Why is this not the answer, Mr Clegg?
In the internet age, children are fast becoming exposed to sexuality at a younger age, with a third of teenagers engaging in sex before they have hit 16. Teenage pregnancy is high despite our consent laws, so what is going wrong? Sure, the age of consent may protect children from adults but are they protected from each other? The issue with lowering the age of consent is that predatory adults may be able to justify relationships with younger teenagers, which could mean going backwards in terms of attitudes towards the consent age. Before 1885, the age of consent was just 13 until it was raised to 16 for fear of child prostitution. A logical step towards tackling one issue, but the age of consent is just one obstacle for children themselves.
Professor Ashton is right in saying that the age of consent means that seeking anonymous advice on the NHS is much harder for a 15 year old than a 16 year old, so maybe the issue is that more advice should be given out to younger teenagers rather than seeking parental consent for contraception such as the pill because let’s face it, teenagers are embarrassed. The limit for complete anonymous NHS advice is an issue that does need to be debated. The Labour party have aired their support for mandatory sex education in light of the comments by Professor Ashton.
According to the shadow public health minister, Luciana Berger: “Labour has called for improved sex and relationship education and tabled amendments to recent legislation for it to be made mandatory, not voluntary, in all schools. Regrettably, the change was voted down by Tory MPs.” A logical step from the Labour party, instead of just brushing the issue under the carpet as Mr Cameron/Clegg has done so perhaps the answer isn’t in lowering the age of consent, but this debate has brought up the many issues this country has been facing regarding teenage pregnancy and ignorance towards sex and relationship education. Clearly, something needs to be done, and it doesn't seem to be happening.
