Your rights and sex
It is legal for young men and women to have sex once they are 16. This applies if you live in England, Wales, Scotland and the Channel Islands. If you live in Northern Ireland, the legal age - known as the age of consent - is 17.
If the woman is UNDER 16, the man - no matter how old he is - is committing a criminal offence. The young woman is not. Unless there is evidence of exploitation, though, prosecutions are rare. In England, Wales and Scotland it is legal for men to have sex with men if they are over 16. In Northern Ireland, you have to be 17 and in Jersey the legal age is 18. There are no specific laws about women having sex with women, so provided both women consent and are above the usual age of consent, it is legal.
Young people also have the right to say no to sex or any other behaviour that makes them uncomfortable. Abuse can be emotional, physical or sexual. Abuse can also take the form of neglect. It can happen in different types of relationships and is to do with power. Abuse of any kind in any relationship is never the fault of the person being abused.
Information
on the law and your rights is available at www.savethechildren.org.uk/rightonline/wiseup.html
Or from the
Scottish Child Law Centre Freefone:
0800 328 8970