What is sexual consent?

Sexual consent is agreeing by choice, to engage in sexual activity such as intimate kissing, touching or sexual acts and having both the freedom and capacity to make that choice.

16 is the lawful age when young people can legally consent to have sex and it is unlawful for an adult to engage in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16. It is unlawful for an adult in a position of trust to engage in sexual activity with someone in their care under the age of 18.

Consent is needed before every sexual encounter and every sexual act. A person should have the freedom to change their mind and withdraw consent at any time. Withdrawing consent or saying no doesn’t have to be given verbally, if a person seems unsure or their body language suggests they are not willing to participate or continue then the sexual encounter must stop and consent must be given to continue.

Forcing, coercing or bribing anyone into any sexual activity is a crime regardless of your marital or relationship status.

‘If someone seems unsure, stays quiet, moves away or doesn’t respond, they are not agreeing to sexual activity. In fact, it’s really common for people who have experienced sexual violence to find they are unable to move or speak.’ (Rape Crisis 2023)

A person is not able to give consent if they are asleep, unconscious, have been spiked, they are under the age of 16 or if they don’t have the mental capacity to consent. No one should be pressured, blackmailed, forced or tricked into sex.

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