Need for ‘stronger law’ on teen sex

THE growing number of teenagers having sex highlights the need for stronger legislation around the age of consent, according to the national organisation for rape victims.

The Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships revealed almost a third of men under the age of 25 and one fifth of women in the same bracket had sex before they reached 17.

Among women who lost their virginity at 16, 59% said they regretted what happened. They were also the most likely group to say they were not willing partners and had not consented.

These women were also most likely to have a crisis pregnancy in later life and contract a sexually transmitted infection.

Responding to the findings, director of Rape Crisis Network Ireland, Fiona Neary, said young people needed to be protected.

“This research clearly shows that adults must be brave enough to set boundaries for our children and teenagers for their wellbeing and protection.

“The age of consent and statutory rape laws must be promoted and strengthened to meet society’s responsibility to children.

“This is convincing evidence-based data which demonstrates the requirement for keeping the age of consent as it currently is, at 17,” she said.

Ms Neary has advised that the study by the Royal Collage of Surgeons of Ireland and the ESRI be used to inform the debate on the proposed referendum on the rights of the child.

“Of the small minority of teenagers who did have sex before the age of consent, the majority of them regretted how young they started.

“Any debates on changing the age of consent must be informed by evidence-based data, such as this, and not only by anecdotal media coverage which frequently promotes the misinformation that increasing numbers of teenagers have sex at younger ages and that this is inevitable,” she said.

The survey found that despite increased sexual activity among young people, knowledge on issues such as natural family planning were declining.