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> child sexual abuse

We're talking about teenagers engaging in sexual activity with other teenagers.

We don't know if there was coercion involved or not.

The child's inability to consent to sex is inherent to the attributes of the child, and derives in no way from the attributes of the child's partner. Therefore, any sex that a child participates in, regardless of any attributes of the partner, is non-consensual and therefore the child is being raped.

That's the argument you're up against.

Who's the criminal if they're both underage? We know what the jury thinks, but that notwithstanding.

The person possessing the image, unless they are the person in that image.

The person distributing that image, unless they are the person in that image.

The person taking the image, unless they are the person in that image.

The person causing that image to be taken whether by normal persuasion, or by coercion, or financial incentive, or violence. (Unless they are the person in that image).

I'm not keen on using that bit of criminal law on children. It doesn't feel like justice, and it doesn't seem to be working.

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