Consent is required when two or more people agree to take part in sexual activity. Without consent from all people involved, sexual activity is illegal. In Aotearoa New Zealand, you must be over 16 years of age to consent to sexual activity. The law is designed to protect young people from being taken advantage of.
Consent is an agreement, not just the absence of saying ‘no’. Consent is often established with talking and body language. Consent cannot be given if you are asleep, unconscious, too drunk or high on drugs.
Consent is a continuous process – just because you said ‘yes’ initially doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind. And just because you have had sex with this person in the past, it doesn’t mean you have to consent to sex again or that they should assume you consent to do so again.
Consent must be given freely each time (and for each type of sexual activity) without pressure or coercion from another person.
Video: Tea and consent
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(Blue Seat Studios, US, 2015)
Video: What is sexual consent?
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(Public Affairs, NZ, 2017)
Video: Quick facts – sexual consent
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(Public Affairs, NZ, 2017)