title: Can a restrictive law serve a protective purpose? The impact of age-restrictive laws on young people's access to sexual and reproductive health services.
abstract: This article explores the purpose, function and impact of legal restrictions imposed on children's and young people's involvement in sexual activity and their access to sexual and reproductive health services. Whilst there is no consensus on the age at which it is appropriate or acceptable for children and young people to start having sex, the existence of a minimum legal age for sexual consent is almost universal across national jurisdictions, and many states have imposed legal rules that place restrictions on children's and young people's independent access to health services, including sexual health services. The article draws on evidence and analysis from a recent study conducted by the International Planned Parenthood Federation in collaboration with the Coram Children's Legal Centre, UK, which involved a global mapping of laws in relation to sexual and reproductive rights, and exploratory qualitative research in the UK, El Salvador and Senegal amongst young people and health care providers. The article critically examines the social and cultural basis for these rules, arguing that the legal concept of child protection is often founded on gendered ideas about the appropriate boundaries of childhood knowledge and behaviour. It concludes that laws which restrict children's access to services may function to place children and young people at risk: denying them the ability to access essential information, advice and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Senior Researcher, Coram Children's Legal Centre, London, UK. Electronic address: elizabeth.yarrow@coramclc.org.uk.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yarrow
authors.affiliation: Research and Policy Manager, Coram Children's Legal Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Socio-legal Researcher, Coram Children's Legal Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Apland
authors.affiliation: Freelance sexual and reproductive health and rights consultant, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004544:El Salvador; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D034121:Reproductive Health Services; D046269:Reproductive Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012675:Senegal; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D006113:United Kingdom; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: age of consent; age-based legal restrictions; children; rights; sexual and reproductive health services; sexual relationships; sexuality; young people