this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2023
171 points (95.2% liked)

Asklemmy

43952 readers
885 users here now

A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions

Search asklemmy ๐Ÿ”

If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!

  1. Open-ended question
  2. Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
  3. Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
  4. Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
  5. An actual topic of discussion

Looking for support?

Looking for a community?

~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de~

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[โ€“] backhdlp@lemmy.blahaj.zone 19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (6 children)

The age of consent in Germany is 14.

Also applies to other countries in Europe iirc, but I can't confirm that because that's not something I'm willing to put in my search history again.

Edit: It's more complex than that, read the replies by @Mrs_deWinter@feddit.de and @Turun@feddit.de.

[โ€“] Mrs_deWinter@feddit.de 50 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Age of consent in Germany is a staggered system. With 14 you're able to consent under specific conditions (them being there's no exploitative element to the relationship), but still could file charge against the older person if they're over 16. With 16 the first rule still applies; from 18 on you're able to consent, period.

So for example when I was 14 I had a boyfriend, also 14, and neither of us committed any crime under this ruling. The law acknowledges that teenagers are allowed to have relationships with each other while putting every borderline case through a case-by-case hearing at court.

It's actually a really good idea, so it kinda is a fun fact.

[โ€“] Urbanfox@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

That's a great idea.

At 14/15 you want to fool about if you have an equally young partner and there's nothing really criminal about it - just discovering sexuality.

14 and 30 though really does have a different ring to it and if that's considered, then credit to the system.

Oh damn, I didn't know it was that deep.

[โ€“] peter@feddit.uk 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[โ€“] tunetardis@lemmy.ca 16 points 1 year ago

9 in Yemen? 9?!? Even in Germany they would say "nein!"

[โ€“] Catsrules@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 year ago

Lol Tunisia at 20

[โ€“] Turun@feddit.de 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Only for kids in the same age range. And quite frankly, I think that's the right way to do it. As if a law would make horny teenagers not have sex.

Setting the age of consent to 18 years just technically makes them pedophiles if you actually enforce it. And I'm of the opinion that laws should be enforced or removed entirely. Having a law and usually not enforcing it gives rise to a dangerous middle ground where persecution depends on other arbitrary factors. Like income, race or how well the cop likes you.

(If you are interested in German law, just reply and I can explain/translate the relevant parts of the law for you)

Edit: translation is also available here: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_stgb/englisch_stgb.html relevant are sections 176 and 182, which combine to give the often cited 14 years. Even though it never says anything about being above 14 years makes something legal! It is phrased in such a way that kids can have sex legally, while also preventing exploitation of minors.

[โ€“] kungen@feddit.nu 2 points 1 year ago

And yet Europe seemingly has less child predators than the US.

[โ€“] olizet@lemmy.works 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

And you can start drinking beer at 15 if at least one parent is around and agrees.

[โ€“] Mrs_deWinter@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago

You can do that at 14 actually.

[โ€“] regalia@literature.cafe 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The Europeans must be asleep seeing that this is still upvoted and the US hasn't been mentioned yet.

edit: nvm they've arrived