Spain Considering Raising Age Of Sexual Consent To Sixteen.

[andres]

A 13years old Spanish girl was murdered by her 38yrs old lover. The age of consent for sex in Spain is at present 13yrs.The Health minister in Spain would like the age of consent raised to 16yrs.in order to stop the ' legal sexual abuse of children'.
One of our UK barristers thinks the legal age of consent should be lowered to 13.
In light of the recent Jeremy Forrest case do you agree with the barrister or should we keep the age as it is at 16.

[rockyracoon]

I think 16 is appropriate.

[maggiebee]

Middle for diddle - 15. You can marry at 16.

[rockyracoon]

The thought of a 38 year old man sleeping with a 13 year old fills me with disgust, if it was my daughter I'd chop his doodah off and make him smoke it.

[anotheoldgit]

Whatever age is decided on it should be the same in all EU countries.

http://www.thinkspain.com/news-spain/22839/minimum-age-of-sexual-consent-could-rise-from-13-to-16-in-spain

[maggiebee]

Rocky, when I was 15 I was sleeping with a 30 year old man. We married when I was 18 and stayed married for 30 years and had 3 lovely children.

[vetuste_ennemi]

"Whatever age is decided on it should be the same in all EU countries."
Decided and enforced by whom, AOG?

[pixie373]

I agree with 15,marry at 16. Although do think marriage is"too easy"- probably a different thread.
what concerns me is more the age-gap. Two 15 year olds, to me, is not as bad as someone of 15 and someone of 30. Different maturities

[jim360]

Any one couple can buck the trend but in general relationships between very young girls and older men twice their age or more are usually damaging or exploitative. Not always, but usually.

I'd be inclined to make the legal age such that you may have left school beforehand, but this may not work if education becomes compulsory up to the age of 18, so... 16 is where I'd set it -- but each case should be considered on its merits.

[ummmm]

I think 16 is appropriate.

[RATTER15]

maggiebee, sorry but a 30 year old guy having sex with a 15 year old is just wrong illegal and perverted, I'm glad it worked out for you, it usually doesn't.

[RATTER15]

I think 16 is about right.

[starone]

I know at least two young girls who had babies when they were thirteen. Nothing happened to the fathers. Police did nothing. I also know of teenagers below the age of 16 who are indulging in sexual activity. As long as a blind eye is turned to it by those in authority there seems to be little or nothing to be done. I also know of a young boy who became a father at 15 with a woman old enough to know what she was doing. The State looks after the children, so they just don't care. When I was young (yes I know, get the violins out) the fear of unwanted children was paramount, but now of course that fear is no longer there.

[maggiebee]

Ratters, I think it may just be the numbers that upset some people. If I said when I was 31 I was sleeping with a 46 year old man would that sound better?

[rockyracoon]

Maggie there's always some that would buck the norm but I can say with all honesty, if a 30 year old man made moves in my 15 year old daughter he would be very assertively asked to desist.

[flump1]

16 years is right in my opinion as youngsters usually try things before the ' legal age ' thinking sex, smoking, drinking etc. If the age of sexual consent was 13, girls as young as twelve would be trying it ....so very wrong.

[rockyracoon]

Then you'd be a woman Maggie, not a 15 year old.

[pixie373]

It is just numbers, maggiebee, because there is a huge difference between a 15 year old and a 31 year old.

[woofgang]

yes maggie because in many many case (? the majority) age 15 is still young and persuadable and age 30 is likely to be the one who has done the persuading no matter which way around the genders are, or even of bot the same gender. By age 31 most people are able to make their own minds up and have experienced life.

[rockyracoon]

If she came home at 18 with a 33 year old I wouldn't be so bothered.

[RATTER15]

Yes maggie, that would be different because he is not then having sex with a child.