Sexual consent and the law
In this section you will learn about sexual consent and the law
Learning about sexual consent and the law is an important part of keeping safe.
There are drawings of
- private body parts
- people with no clothes on
- sexual activity
These drawings are there to help you understand.
There are no photos of real peoples private body parts on our website.
It is ok to see these drawings when learning about sexual consent and the law.
If you have any questions or upset about anything you read, it is good to speak to an adult you trust.
Move down the page to find out more about sexual consent and the law.
You need to get consent and give consent to have sex
You can only have sex with someone who consents to having sex.
Consenting to sex means both people agreeing or saying yes to having sex.
You need to get consent and give consent for every kind of romantic and sexual touching.
You need consent to touch your partners private body parts.
You need consent to have oral sex.
You need consent for penis in vagina sex.
You need consent for anal sex.
Ask your partner if they want to have sex, before you start having sex.
Only have sex with your partner if they consent and tell you they want to have sex.
You must respect your partner’s choice to say no.
If they do not give consent, do not pressure them to change their mind.
Do not try to have sex with them.
Your partner must get your consent before sex too.
They should ask you if you want to have sex.
You can tell your partner no.
Your partner must not pressure you to change your mind, or try to have sex with you if you do not consent.
Having sex with someone who has not consented is called rape or sexual assault.
It is against the law.
Tell the police or someone you trust if someone tries to have sex with you when you did not consent.
If you are in danger or need urgent medical attention, call 999.
Move down the page to learn about the law.
The law says:
The law says people should be 16 years old, or older, before they have sex.
The law says that people having sex need to know
- What sex is
- The risks of having sex
- How to keep ourselves safe.
People who are younger than 16 might find it hard to make the decision to have sex, and keep themselves safe.
There are risks to our health when we have sex.
We could get, or pass on, sexual infections.
People who are younger than 16 might not know how to keep safe and healthy.
Pregnancy can happen because of sex.
Being pregnant and being a parent is a big decision.
Being a parent can be very hard work.
It is best to wait until you are 16 or older to have sex.
You do not have to start having sex when you turn 16.
You can choose to wait longer if you like and when you feel ready.
Learn more about feeling ready to have sex.
Taking, sharing or having a naked picture or video of someone under 18 is against the law, even if they have given consent.
Some people call these ‘nudes’
If you are over 18, you always need to get consent to share pictures and videos of naked private body parts.
If are you are worried about a nude you have shared or something you have seen online there are people who are help.
You can talk to an adult you trust about what has happened
You can talk to Childline about what has happened.
- phone 0800 1111
- chat online with a 1-2-1 counsellor
If you are worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone is talking to you online.
CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) can help.
You can report to CEOP Safety Centre.
Move down the page to learn about law and people who are not allowed to have sex with you.
There are some people who are not allowed to have sex with you
It is against the law for sex to happen between some people.
These laws are to keep you and others safe.
It is against the law to have sex with your family.
This could mean your:
- mum or dad
- brother or sister
- aunt or uncle
- grandparents
- foster carers
It is against the law to have sex with a child. This is anybody aged 12 or younger.
This law is to keep children safe.
It is against the law to have sex with someone who takes care of you as their job.
This could be a:
- support worker or carer
- nurse
- doctor
- therapist
It is against the law to have sex with any of your teachers or workers in your school.
It is against the law to have sex with someone who works at any clubs or groups you go to, like sports clubs or youth groups.
Tell a person you trust if any of these people has had sex with you, or tried to have sex with you.
If you are in danger or need urgent medical attention, call 999.
If you need to talk to someone, Childline can help:
- phone 0800 1111
- or chat online with a 1-2-1 counsellor.
Move down the page to find out more support services
