Culled from our Instructional Manuals: S.A.F.E™ for YOU

TIP 70

“Because the child does not have the power to withhold consent, she does not have the power to grant it.”Judith Lewis HERMAN

Wow! It is has been seventy (70) days since we have been on this journey to the Promised Land of your Personal Safety and Self-Protection.  I am so glad, I am with you again today, my dear and precious co-traveler. Thank God we have gone more than half of trip.

Today, I want to discuss with you this thing often called, ‘Consensual Sexual Activity’ among children and teenager.

Let me say again without wasting time and mincing words as I have submitted earlier, sex is not meant for children. If I may ask again, who is a child? A child is anyone below the age of 18 years, as I earlier showed you according to the law.

The position that sex is not meant for children derives its authority from both legal and moral injunctions. If you are not moved by the moral part of it, you are of necessity expected to be moved by the legal part of the injunction.

Let me quickly declare to you that there is no such thing as ‘Consensual Sexual Activity’ in a relationship between children/teenagers. Sexual relationship between children still constitutes an abuse of yourself and the other child, irrespective of the first person to initiate same.

In the eye of the law, anyone below the age of eighteen years does not have the capacity to give consent to sexual relationship either for sexual intercourse or any other form of sexual activities, including oral sex.

Oral sex? Yes, oral sex or oral intercourse refers to sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a person by another person using the mouth (including the lips, tongue or teeth) or throat.

When two children/teenagers engage in what they call ‘Consensual Sexual Activity,’ it is still an abuse of each other’s bodies and it is contrary to the provisions of the law.  Please note that the matter is worse when children, who are younger, are engaged in sex by the older ones.

Please note that when we talk about ‘Consensual Sexual Activity’ here we are not only talking about sex between people of the opposite sex. It is very sad to note today that children are now involved in same sex, particularly when they are in boarding schools.

A woman recently told a story of how her son was sexually abused by older boys in a boarding school. In some cases sexual relationship with same sex between boys and boys and girls and girls are voluntary and this ought not to be so at all. In fact sexual relationship among children is very dangerous.

Now, beyond the provisions of the law, sexual relationship of any kind among children is a major distraction to your academic pursuit. The negative consequences are also enormous psychologically and physiologically.

Let us round up our discussion on sexual abuse for now. We will meet again when sharing with you the steps to take to protect yourself from sexual abuse. Do have an INSPIRED day.

The THINK Factor

I want to challenge you today to think about why you think ‘Consensual Sexual Activity’ young people is the right thing for young people to engage as friends. I really what you to think deep and being out the benefits to your or your friends. Take time to really reflect and share your thoughts in your S.A.F.E™ 4 YOU Personal Journal.