Age of Consent issue a lost cause already.

Seems that both the heads of government and Opposition are against lowering age of consent ( courtesy Kuensel ). Thats a lot of  Parliamentary  effort for nothing. Why then even bother to make it Parliamentary agenda to vote on?

1. Age of consent applies to both sex. Not just female. So please self named women advocates stop those crodidle tears.

2. If harsh penalty was the only problem related to age of consent than Parliament Committee should have put effort to reduce penalty for illegal but consensual sex. Why even bother taking up the matter for lowering the consent  age to 16 years.

3. Bhutanese Court of Law follows the definition of age as calculated by western method. By Bhutanese tradition, legal 16 years age would still be 18.

4. Traditionally by Bhutanese age 15 for male and 18 for female, the citizens were subjected to conscripted labour as well as defence duty.

5. Therefore, there is the traditional historical background that demonstrates  that Bhutanese youth at Bhutanese age of 15 and 18 equivalent to Western age 13 and 16 have shouldered national responsibilities. As such our youths have the right to expect the age of consent to be lowered to 16 age.

6. Bhutan is a nation of mostly youth population  dictated upon by elderly people. This course of administration by the minority older generation must be rectified. And the only way and correct means to enable the  majority youth population to have a say in the affairs of the nation is by lower voting right to age 16. Lowering age of consent is the beginning of dawn of youth empowerment.

7. Lowering age of consent to age 16 is empowering the youth. Sex is only a minor part though inhumane penalty imposed ( 9 years jail term ) for offender has exposed the social hellish side of the law that converted consensual sex to rape status which called for a relook at the age of consent.

8. Age of consent is simply the legal age when a youth has the legal right to make decision for oneself free of consent of the  guardian. And because the body is the closest and dearest possession of any living being, that right must begin with the right to decide over one's own body. And when you are 16 years old by Western standard and 18 years by Bhutanese tradition, surely a youth should have right to decide about sex.

9. With the age of consent regarding one's own body lowered to 16 years old, the path is cleared for youths to gradually  receive the legal rights to vote and own property in their name and have their own bank account upon completing 16 years age. This is empowering the youth and giving them a say in their future and that of the nation.

The people who oppose lowering the age of consent to 16 years are not protecting the youth whether girl or boy. They are denying a legitimate birth and biological right of a youth. And thereby obstructing all other empowering process for youth population to have legitimate say in their affairs and that of national affairs.

The people in power are afraid to empower the  unknown force the youth population of Bhutan..That is why the Political Parties both Ruling and in Opposition are out to resist the critical amendment in lowering the age of consent. They know what would follow. Age of consent is the key that will open the door wide open for youth empowerment. And that frightens leadership of the older generation..

If PM, Opposition leader and all the loud women MPs are sincere in the  protection of girls then legalise abortion. The worst exploitation of a girl's body is being forced upon to keep nursing unwanted pregnancy and then forced to raise the baby thereafter without a father. Otherwise please  refrain  from holier than god attitute and all these loud false concerns for girls.

If these people really think sexual activity is a taboo for 16 years old youth then stop promoting safe sex nation wide particulatly in schools. Why distribute condoms and promote safe sex? If it is safe for both body and moral to have sex using condom for high school students then why is is not acceptable to lower the age of consent to 16 age?  Away with false concerns and using such pretensions to deny youth the power over their own bodies and other civil rights that would follow upon lowering the age of consent.