A high-profile initiative has appeared on the official e-petition portal of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, calling for the age of majority and the age of sexual consent to be raised to 21. The author of the petition bases their position on recent research in the fields of neurobiology and psychology.
- The petition proposes raising the age of majority to 21.
- The author supports the initiative with neurobiological research.
- Changing the age limits is intended to protect young people from manipulation.
- The Cabinet of Ministers must consider the petition once 25,000 signatures have been collected.
- In Ukraine, the age of majority is currently 18.
A high-profile initiative to raise the age of majority
On the official website online petitions The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has registered a petition calling for raising the age of majority and the age of sexual consent to 21. The author of the initiative believes that this is necessary to protect young people from manipulation and exploitation.
Scientific justifications
The petition highlights the fact that the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is responsible for self-control and decision-making, does not fully develop until the age of 25 on average. This means that young people who reach the age of 18 may remain vulnerable to psychological pressure.
«Although people acquire most of their civil rights at the age of 18, many young people remain vulnerable to manipulation,» notes the author of the petition.
Protecting young people from abuse
The author highlights recent cases of sexual violence in which perpetrators exploited the vulnerability of young people. In his view, changing the age limits could:
- To strengthen the protection of young people against sexual exploitation.
- To minimise the risks associated with older partners exploiting their social advantage.
- Strike a balance between personal freedom and security.
Proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers
The petition does not call for the law to be passed automatically, but asks the government to take the first steps:
- Set up an expert committee comprising lawyers, psychologists and human rights activists.
- Conduct a study into the advisability of raising the age of majority.
- Organise public consultations with the involvement of academics.
The author emphasises that the aim of the initiative is not to restrict rights, but to create a legal safeguard for young people.
Context and procedure
Currently, the age of majority in Ukraine is 18, and the age of sexual consent is 16. For the Cabinet of Ministers to consider the petition, it must receive at least 25,000 signatures within three months.
