France to Make Age of Sexual Consent at 15: Know the Highest and Lowest Consent Ages in Countries Around the World

The age of consent is a very important factor in today’s times when we see a rising number of sexual violence around the world. The number of rapes in India itself has been too shocking over the years, in most cases, it is the minors who are the victims of gruesome sexual violence. In such cases, the age of consent comes into play, for the trial of such cases. The age of consent refers to the legally defined age at which the person is legally competent to engage with consent for a sexual activity. This defined age, however, varies in countries around the world. In a recent case of sexual activities involving minors in France, the country has announced the age of consent at 15.

The change followed an uproar in the country regarding two cases of rape. The men in question are accused of having sex with 11-year-old girls. In their current legislation, any sexual act by an adult with a child younger than 15 can be prosecuted as a sexual offence. But the prosecutors would have to prove the sex was a forced activity which is where the problem came in. so the age of consent was being decided between 13-15. The age is now decided at 15 and yet to be accepted by the government.

The Highest and Lowest Age of Consent in the World

Bahrain has the highest age of consent with 21 years. Next comes South-Korea with 20 years.

Nigeria has the lowest age of consent with just 11 years. Nigeria is followed by 12 in the Philippines and Angola. The age of consent is 13 in countries like Burkina Faso, Comoros, Niger, and Japan. While these countries are mostly the underdeveloped ones except Japan. But in local districts in most parts of Japan, the statute marks the age between 16-18.

Places with No Age of Consent

Although this is a very sorry state of law affairs, there exist certain places which do not have a defined age of consent. Middle Eastern and African countries do not have a legal age of consent. But these countries ban all sexual relations maintained outside of marriage. However, this premise raises questions about the marriageable age of girls. It promotes more child marriages taking place in these parts of the world. The countries in the marriage-based consent age are Afghanistan, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Pakistan, Qatar, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the UAE.

Age of consent across the world

In most of the European countries, the age of consent is 16 years. In Germany, however, it is 14. In the US, the age of consent differs from state to state but it is in the range of 16-18 years. All states have consent age that falls within a three-year range. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the age of consent ranges from 12 to 18. The average age is 15 years old. In Australia, the age of consent is 16 years except for Tasmania and South Australia where it is 17 years. In the United Kingdom, the age of consent is 16. In India, it is 18 years.

On an average in most parts around the world, the age of consent is in the range of 16-18 years. The age of consent is extremely important to treat the cases of sexual violence.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 07, 2018 06:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).