Any sexual activity outside of marriage is illegal. [16] According to the Family Law, the minimum age of marriage is 18 for boys and 16 for girls. The court may authorize marriage before the minimum age, but requires the consent of the legal guardian as well as the consent of both persons to marry. Consensual sexual relations outside of marriage are legally permitted for people aged 21 and over. [27] If a married person has sexual relations with a person to whom he or she is not married, the Code of Criminal Procedure gives the person to whom he or she is married the freedom to file a complaint of adultery if he or she so wishes. They also have the freedom to drop charges after they file if they wish. However, these options would not be available after three months since the person became aware of the adultery. Marriage should, of course, be recognized by the government so that the options mentioned can be made available. The de facto age of consent for heterosexual relations in Malaysia is 18 for both sexes, as homosexual activity is illegal in Malaysia. Sexual activity outside of marriage is illegal in Oman. [15] The legal age of marriage in Oman is 18. [7] « Female Genital Mutilation in the Sultanate of Oman, » January 2014, www.stopfgmmideast.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/habiba-al-hinai-female-genital-mutilation-in-the-sultanate-of-oman1.pdf (accessed January 24, 2017). See also « The Deepest Cut, » Y – the Pulse of Oman, February 5, 2014, www.y-oman.com/2014/02/deepest-cut/ (accessed January 23, 2017).
[19] Gulf News, « Oman bans corporal punishment in Muscat schools, » p. 23. October 2016, gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/oman-bans-corporal-punishment-in-muscat-schools-1.1917293 Illegitimate births are a crime and lead mothers of unwanted children not to contact the relevant authorities for fear of legal sanctions. These children are therefore often abandoned. Articles 372 and 373 make it illegal to buy or sell minors for the purpose of prostitution. In addition, section 78 of the Children Act 2013 requires any person who has effective responsibility or supervision of a child (redefined by law as a person under the age of 18) to seduce or induce the child into prostitution. [33] The legal age of consent to sexual activity varies across provinces and territories in Asia, ranging from 9 years (Yemen) to 21 years (Hong Kong for women who have sex). The specific activity or gender of the participants may also be relevant factors. Below is a discussion of the various laws that deal with this issue. Highlighted age refers to an age at or above which a person can have full sexual intercourse with another person who is also at that age or above. Other variables, such as same-sex relationships or near-age exceptions, may exist and may be noted, for example in Indonesia. The age of consent in Cambodia is 15, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
[36] The age of consent in this country is determined by Section 8 of Chapter 4 (Debauchery) of the Anti-Abduction, Trafficking and Exploitation of Persons Act, which was specifically enacted to prohibit sexual relations with children under the age of 15. The law prohibits « debauchery » with a child under the age of 15, and this term (the original Cambodian word is anacha has been interpreted by the courts to prohibit any form of sexual behavior (consensual and non-consensual; both « normal » sex and paid sex) with a child under the age of 15. It is the main legal instrument for prosecuting foreigners who engage in child sex tourism in Cambodia. [37] [38] [39] [40] In 1892, the marital rape and subsequent death of a 10-year-old girl, Phulmoni Dasi, raised the age of consent from 10 to 12. In 1949, it was increased to 16 after groups of women became agitated about the harmful effects of early pregnancy. [ref. needed]. [58] The 3. In April 2014, the Criminal Law Amendment Act 2013 came into force, raising the legal age of sexual consent from 16 to 18. Although the Criminal Law Amendment Act 2013 was originally intended to lower the age to 16, it was set at 18 due to political pressure from conservative parties.
[59] § 375 states: A man commits « rape » if he (…) Sixth – With or without her consent if she is under eighteen years of age. [60] Section 377A (Indecent Offences) of the Penal Code states: « Any male who publicly or privately commits or encourages gross indecency towards another male person, or who attempts to induce a male person to commit gross indecency towards another male person, shall be punished by imprisonment for up to 2 years. This means that any male same-sex sexual activity (including mutual masturbation, oral or anal sex) is still illegal and the penalty can be up to two (2) years in prison, based on the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
