"Sex requires consent": UK launches information leaflets for asylum seekers

The UK Home Office has launched a guide for asylum seekers detailing social and legal norms in Britain, including the requirement of consent for sex, prohibition of relationships with minors, female genital mutilation, and violence against children. The guide emphasizes equal rights for women and defines permissible behavior in public spaces.

The UK Home Office yesterday (Wednesday) launched an informational guide for asylum seekers, aimed at clarifying social and legal norms in Britain. The guide, published online, emphasizes that "sex requires consent" and clarifies that non-consensual relations constitute rape, a serious crime punishable by imprisonment that may affect the asylum application. It also states that sexual relations with minors under 16 are a serious criminal offense, with no exceptions. The guide addresses an absolute ban on female genital mutilation and forced marriage of children, defined as serious crimes. Additionally, it clarifies that violence against children, including hitting, slapping, and humiliation, is prohibited by law. The guide highlights the principle of equality between women and men, stating that women are entitled to work, study, travel, and choose whom to marry without needing permission from a man. A substantial section is devoted to behavior in public spaces, including a ban on sexual comments, whistling, stalking, crude gestures, and verbal abuse based on gender, religion, or appearance. The guide aims to impart to asylum seekers "the set of values and norms of a liberal and egalitarian Western society."