Should the age of consent be changed?

Added to this, according to the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Bill, consensual sexual acts with a child between 12 and 15 years old is a crime ONLY when the other party is more than two years older. 

As Times Live reports, Parliament is currently considering submissions from the public on the Bill. Among the submissions put forward is that the age of consent be raised to 18 years, that parents, guardians and teachers should be punished if they permit children under the age of 14 to engage in sex, and that teenagers should rather be educated to make informed decisions about sexual activity.

When I first read this article, an old fire ignited in my heart. I have never understood why we fail to teach our children about making informed sexual decisions. We can't deny that the imagery our teens are exposed to on a daily basis is extremely sexual, from the music videos they watch, to the lyrics of the songs they listen to. But I strongly feel that it is our responsibility as parents and well informed adults to have these conversations with our teens. 

We often cringe when we hear the word sex or when people speak of condoms - and we see sex as taboo. 

Exploring sex is a natural part of human nature and when we get to a certain age, it is natural that we become curious about our bodies, especially in terms of sexuality. 

With that said, a part of me doesn't believe that raising the age of sexual consent will help with anything, because let's face it, teenagers don't really care much for the law. 

I am caught between a rock and a hard place with this one. 

So I want to know what do you think? Do you think we should raise the age of sexual consent? Are you a parent with teens who takes the time to talk with your teens about sexuality?

Leave your comments below.

(Photo: Gallo Images)