Page "Human sexual activity" Paragraph 21

Most societies consider it a serious crime to force someone to engage in sexual acts or to engage in sexual activity with someone who does not consent.

This is called sexual assault, and if sexual penetration occurs it is called rape, the most serious kind of sexual assault.

The details of this distinction may vary among different legal jurisdictions.

Also, what constitutes effective consent in sexual matters varies from culture to culture and is frequently debated.

Laws regulating the minimum age at which a person can consent to have sex ( age of consent ) are frequently the subject of debate, as is adolescent sexual behavior in general.

Some societies have forced marriage, where consent may not be required.