The Department of Youth and Community Studies noted that sexual readiness occurs at different ages and what is considered as the appropriate age for sexual initiation differs from one adolescent to another in a statement today.

Whereas there are 16-year old teenagers, who are capable of sound decision-making, which affirms their sexual wellbeing, there are others who do not yet understand the implications that the sexual acts they might give consent to could have on their life.

The Department supports an increase in the provision of sexuality and relationship education in schools and educational campaigns aimed for young people and parents, which tackle issues about the positive values of sexuality, the factors influencing the onset of sexual activity, contraception, infectious diseases related to sexual activity, unplanned pregnancies and life as a single parent.

The Department is concerned that less than half (47.4%) of the 16- 18 year old surveyed by the Ministry of Health in 2012 know what a Genitourinary clinic is. Young people have the right to be informed. 87.7% of the same age group in the same study considers the provision of advice on relationships through sexual health services as either 'very important' or 'quite important'.

A body of research repeatedly shows that the provision and quality of sex education together with access to contraception lower pregnancy rates. Countries with lower ages of legal sexual consent could have lower pregnancy rates, due in part to more rigorous and higher standards for sex education and greater contraception access.

One of the main issues the law needs to consider is how to safeguard young persons from sexual dysfunction, exploitation and abuse, on the one hand, and legitimising their sexual expression, on the other, especially with regards to young persons, whose sexual activity is part of their everyday life.