Age at First Sex and Age of Sexual Consent in Botswana: An Exploration of the Socio, Demographic, Health, Policy and Other Implications of Increasing Age of Sexual Consent in the Context of Declining Age at First Sex

Serai Daniel Rakgoasi, University of Botswana
Joseph Pitso, SADC
Gobopamang Letamo, University of Botswana

In response to apparently increasing cases of child sexual abuse, and under pressure to protect the increasing proportion of young people who seem to fall prey to older sexual partners, the government of Botswana increased the age of sexual consent, from 16 to 18 years in 2018. The main objective of this paper is to explore the evidence basis of this law, and present evidence on the likely impact of increasing age of sexual consent in the context of declining age at first sex. Specifically the paper use census and survey data from Botswana to profile the sexual practices of young people relative to the age of old age of sexual consent; including the implications of increasing the age of sexual consent; as well as the legal, policy and programmatic implications of implementing the law on increased age of sexual consent