TACKLING THE AGE OF CONSENT
Recent research in Donegal brings a touch of reality to the discussion surrounding the complex issue of the age of consent, according to General Election candidate Cllr. Jimmy Harte.
A recent report has found that over half of young women in Donegal were underage when they had sex for the first time. The report, which was carried out by the Letterkenny Women's Centre, found that 51% of young women aged17 - 25 had sex when they were under 17, which is the current age of consent. Sadly they also reported stories of regret, not feeling ready and peer pressure.
Harte says that the age of consent issue must be dealt with so that a clear distinction is made between predatory sexual activity by adults and consensual sexual activity by teenagers. However, we also need to expand the debate beyond the age of consent issue in order to also to look at what type of society we want to live in.
“With regard to the age of consent, the law should be designed to protect children from predatory adults. It should not criminalise 16 year-old children who are in serious relationships,” he says, “With regard to the type of society we want to live in, we need to start addressing the broader issue of sex education. We live in a culture that bombards children with sexual images and that has an unacceptable level of underage drinking and drug use. Sexual messages embedded in our media may also be having an impact on the sexual behaviour of children.”
Harte continues, “We need to listen to what young people want in order to provide for more holistic education on sexual health. This must take place both within and outside the formal education sector, and it must focus on both the emotional and biological aspects of sex and sexuality. If you look at the Netherlands, a country which is socio-economically similar to Ireland, you will see that the age of intercourse there is much higher. Research has indicated that this is mainly achieved by having the right social climate, sex education and sexual health services.”
“While I in no way wish to press a moral panic button, as an elected representative and a father I cannot bury my head in the sand and refuse to address the issues facing our society,“ says Cllr Harte.
Recent research in Donegal brings a touch of reality to the discussion surrounding the complex issue of the age of consent, according to General Election candidate Cllr. Jimmy Harte.
A recent report has found that over half of young women in Donegal were underage when they had sex for the first time. The report, which was carried out by the Letterkenny Women's Centre, found that 51% of young women aged17 - 25 had sex when they were under 17, which is the current age of consent. Sadly they also reported stories of regret, not feeling ready and peer pressure.
Harte says that the age of consent issue must be dealt with so that a clear distinction is made between predatory sexual activity by adults and consensual sexual activity by teenagers. However, we also need to expand the debate beyond the age of consent issue in order to also to look at what type of society we want to live in.
“With regard to the age of consent, the law should be designed to protect children from predatory adults. It should not criminalise 16 year-old children who are in serious relationships,” he says, “With regard to the type of society we want to live in, we need to start addressing the broader issue of sex education. We live in a culture that bombards children with sexual images and that has an unacceptable level of underage drinking and drug use. Sexual messages embedded in our media may also be having an impact on the sexual behaviour of children.”
Harte continues, “We need to listen to what young people want in order to provide for more holistic education on sexual health. This must take place both within and outside the formal education sector, and it must focus on both the emotional and biological aspects of sex and sexuality. If you look at the Netherlands, a country which is socio-economically similar to Ireland, you will see that the age of intercourse there is much higher. Research has indicated that this is mainly achieved by having the right social climate, sex education and sexual health services.”
“While I in no way wish to press a moral panic button, as an elected representative and a father I cannot bury my head in the sand and refuse to address the issues facing our society,“ says Cllr Harte.