I don't believe in the idea of an age of consent, but we're currently in a situation where kids are capable -- but not prepared, to fend for themselves in making such choices, nor are they widely capable of asserting themselves to adults. Netherlands is a little further ahead in this regard than most western countries, so that should be kept in mind. At the same time, I think the selfishness factor in adults in recent years (at least since the 1980's) is very high. Without an AOC and nothing else being changed, the number of adults using and abusing kids would just go through the roof, and it would not even be pedosexuals making up the majority of abusers.

Then you'd *really* lose the fight for centuries to come. The Dutch happen to have a higher regard and level of respect for their children, their independence, their right to learn, and will openly discuss sex with them. It's been like that for many years. It's simply not like that in the UK or the US. There absolutely must be early, standardized, age-tailored sex education from at least kindergarden, as well as training in asserting their right to refuse in the face of implied authority by adults. This education should be wanted even by antis, since it can be proven that this significantly reduces the number of unwanted sex acts with adults, which is something both sides ought to be fighting for.

At the same time, we REALLY need to work on adults here, because all I see is a continuing campaign to diss children, to paint them as annoying and unruly, and in need of simple-minded discipline rather than creative guidance. That doesn't bode well for a banishment of the AOC. If there was one, the impending result would be a backsliding to even more, intensely strict laws, for many many years to come. Several lifetimes, I am sure.

No, I don't like the AOC laws. And I don't believe they are necessary in a healthy society which regards kids with respect and teaches them how to face the reality of early sexual encounters. We do not have that society currently. Without that respect and without that education, I believe to make the immediate demand becomes an unintended disservice, both to the kids as well as to the desired quickness of the change itself.