What is the age of consent in Belize?
Asked by: Mr. Ari Douglas | Last update: August 22, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (23 votes)
The age of consent in Belize is 16. It also amended the provisions criminalising all sexual activity with persons with intellectual disability, whether consensual or not, bringing the law closer into line with human rights standards that require protection of every person's right to sexual autonomy.
What is the legal age of consent in Belize?
Children under sixteen years of age cannot legally consent to sexual intercourse. It is a criminal offence for anyone to have sexual intercourse with a child who is under sixteen years of age.
What is the lowest age of consent in the world?
The lowest age of consent is in Nigeria (11), followed by the Philippines and Angola (12). The age of consent is 13 in three countries – Niger, Comoros, and Burkina Faso. The countries where the age of consent is 14 include a number of South American countries: Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Bolivia.
What country has 13 age of consent?
Several other countries, including Niger and Japan, have designated 13 as the age of consent—although Japan has notoriously inconsistent consent laws that designate different ages of consent, ranging from 13 to 20, depending upon where one is in the country.
What is the lowest age of consent in history?
Abstract. In 1899 the age of sexual consent in some American jurisdictions was 9 years. It has ranged from 7 to 21 years and at present the range is from 11 to 18 years.
Age of Consent Debate Continues in Belize Amid Calls for Change
What country has the age of consent at 11?
For example, the age of consent stands at 11 in Nigeria, and in contrast, it is 14 years in countries including Colombia, Ecuador, Austria, France, as well as others. Some countries mark the age of consent at a relatively high 20 years, like South Korea. In Bahrain, it's even higher at 21.
Is the age of consent 14 in Germany?
All Member States establish a minimum age for sexual consent. Most Member States set this between 14 and 16 years. The lowest minimum age is 14 years, set in seven Member States: Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Portugal. The highest is set at 18 years – in Malta.
What is the age of consent in Russia?
Age of sexual consent is 16 years.
What is the age of consent in Africa?
In Comoros, the age of consent is 13 years, and it is 18 years in countries like Kenya, Uganda, Swaziland and Tanzania. In Namibia, it is 14 years, and it is 16 years in countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa (Kangaude and Skelton 2018) .
Why is the age of consent so low in Japan?
Japan is a male-dominated society with vast underrepresentation of women in positions of power. Its government — run by a mostly older, conservative and elite group of men — has been slow to adopt changes that concern the welfare of women and girls.
Can you drink at 16 in Belize?
Some businesses do not close for lunch, and some open on Saturday. Most bars are open until 1 or 2am, although some go later. Drinking Laws -- The legal drinking age in Belize is 18 years old, although it is often not enforced.
What is the age of consent Cuba?
Cuba. The effective age of consent in Cuba is 12. Similarly to the situation in Mexico, the Código Penal de Cuba of 2022 provides that laws of estupro (statutory rape) apply to minors between 12 and 18 only if charges are filed by their guardian, and such charges may be dropped before or during the trial.
Is abortion legal in Belize?
Legal status
Abortion is considered a criminal offense except when performed by a registered medical practitioner under certain conditions. The sentence for performing an illegal abortion in Belize is life imprisonment. Abortion is permitted under the following circumstances: To protect the life of the mother.
Can a 30 year old date a 16 year old in South Africa?
According to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act (2007), the age of consent for both boys and girls is 16 years of age.
Can a 13 year old consent in Japan?
Japan also raised the legal age of consent, so that sexual intercourse with someone under 16 is now considered rape.
What is the age of consent in Jamaica?
Children under sixteen years of age cannot in law give consent to sexual intercourse and a wide range of other sexual activities. They are however vulnerable to sexual violence and sexual exploitation. It is a criminal offence for anyone to have sexual intercourse with a child who is under sixteen years of age.
When was the age of consent 7?
In Delaware, the age of consent was 10 years old until 1871 when it was lowered to 7 years old. Under the 1871 law, a man was given the death penalty for sex with a girl below the age of consent.
What states have a Romeo and Juliet law?
California is one of 20 states with no Romeo and Juliet law. The absence of a Romeo and Juliet law in California puts young people at risk of significant legal consequences if they engage in sexual activities. Prosecution of teenagers having sexual intercourse is rarely prosecuted.
What is the age of consent in Islam?
No age limits have been fixed by Islam for marriage according to Reuben Levy, and "quite young children may be legally married". The girl may not live with the husband however until she is fit for marital sexual relations.
What is the age of consent in Brazil?
In Brazil, the age of consent is 14, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Although not legally formalized, there is judicial precedent allowing a close-in-age exception for those aged 12–13 to engage in sexual activity with partners who are as much as 5 years older.
What is the age of consent in England?
In the UK the age of consent is 16. Anyone aged 16 or over, regardless of gender or sexuality can legally consent to sex. There are exceptions to this rule. It is illegal for anyone in a position of trust to have sexual contact with anyone aged 17 or under who is in their care.
What is the age of consent in Italy?
Italy. The age of consent in Italy is 14 years, with a close-in-age exception that allows those aged 13 to engage in sexual activity with partners who are less than 3 years older than them.