Age of consent should be 18 minimum. That would prevent thousands of unwanted pregnancies and lower human trafficking. Way too many unwed mothers and fathers that disappear when young, along with the added STD's that happen to those who aren't educated enough to think of their actions. This explains it well............. Maintaining or raising the age of consent to 18 helps prevent trafficking by legally removing any defense of "consent" for minors, though the debate focuses on whether an age of 18 versus 16 effectively targets illegal exploitation or criminalizes voluntary adolescent behavior. How Age of Consent Affects Trafficking Laws Zero Consent for Minors: Under international standards and most national laws, anyone under 18 is legally incapable of consenting to commercial sex, labor, or marriage. Closing Legal Loopholes: If the age of consent is set at 16 or lower, traffickers can attempt to use an alleged "consent" defense—or claim a victim's participation was voluntary—to avoid prosecution or reduce charges. Strengthening Enforcement: Legal experts and advisory bodies, such as India's Law Commission, argue that keeping the standard at 18 prevents exploiters from disguising child prostitution, trafficking, or child marriage as consensual or lawful acts. The fact remains that the human brain isn't developed until the mid 20's, and irrational decisions happen because of this.
