Should there be strict criminal liability for adults who have sex with children?

70% YES 30% NO

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• Of course there should be strict criminal liability for adults who have sex or seek sex with children. To argue that jurisprudence is undermined by such liability is, to use a metaphor, tilting her scales rather than adjusting her blindfold. What we perhaps ought worry about defining is that grey area of adulthood which I think can best be sumarised as the "16th birthday party question". At such a hypothetical party one would expect a range of youngsters who technically fall on both sides of the age of consent, with one the host or hostess passing that age the day of the party with little other signs of maturity. Thus I would argue that a different criteria for determining criminal sexual acts between adolescents be considered. As obviously adults of age but suffering from mental retardation must not be considered as completely aware or conscious of the criminality of their acts. Such realisations finally excluded the mentally handicapped from death penalty sentences in the USA thanks to US Supreme court decision in the last ten years. So - following my suggestions, we would continue to protect the child, ensuring the penalties against adults and serve Justice and Jurisprudence properly by recognising that such laws not only protect the innocence of the very young but should delineate the experimentation and route to experience which is the right of every teenager or adolescent.
  iosaf mac diarmada  Spain
• A lot of young people who are teenagers, feel that they do not have a voice when this sort of debate happens. What about a 17-year-old who independently falls in love with a 19- or 20- year-old? That's what I did. I'm not saying it was not a mistake, but it was a mistake regarding the person rather than his age. Dictating to a teen that they are not allowed to fall in love with someone slightly older (who is still close to their age) is unfair. What we want to stop is predatory and manipulative behaviour, not teenagers falling in love. Young people need to be counseled on choices, not threatened with legal action. I think that if there is need for legal definitions of predatory relationships with underage persons, we need to factor in an age difference greater than five years. Otherwise, young people could be caused an unfair amount of emotional suffering by giving parents, guardians or authorities an excuse to perhaps unfairly litigate and jail a relationship partner they don't approve of. I was 17 when I met my first long-term boyfriend, and he was 20, but I find it laughable even at my age now, to think that he would be guilty of rape.
  Allie  Ireland
• We need to differentiate between strict liability and absolute liability. The former requires the defendant to prove he had a reasonable belief that the other party was in fact an adult. Absolute liability, on the other hand, would remove the defence of honest mistake altogether. Part of the problem is that people sometimes lie about their age and look much older than they are. But there are also cases where noone could seriously believe the victim is an adult. I think this is a difficult issue and I think the politicians need to work out a way of protecting children, while also not criminalising all the underage fathers in the country which FG's proposals to return to the status-quo ante would do. I don't think the parents of underage fathers will vote for an amendment that treats them as rapists and throws them into prison.
  Brian Boru  Ireland
• There is NO country listing for Ireland or Europe!!! Why was the film "Lions for Lambs" which poses brilliant moral and political questions about the justification of Aggressive intervention by Armed forces just withdrawn after only a week from Irish cinemas? Was this at the request of the American Embassy or Fox News? The film is superb and powerful. It should be shown at every 2nd and 3rd level School, College and University in Ireland and Europe. S L D.
  Sue Leonora Doyle  British Indian Ocean Territory
• The present law clearly discriminates against males and also brands a large section of the teenage population as "paedophile rapists" when they are clearly nothing of the sort. It is plainly nonsensical to suggest such laws are about "protesting children" It actually places (especially male) Adults and children in grave danger.
  Mike  United Kingdom