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Alice's relationship with Russell BrandAn English actor and comedian. In 2023, he was accused of sexual assault. began when she was 16. She felt grown-up going to dinner with a 31-year-old TV star.

Alice is not her real name. But she is one of the women who has accused Russell Brand of sexual assaultWhen somebody touches another person in a sexual way without their consent. . She says that she agreed to some sexual activity - but at other times she did not.

Russell Brand says all of the claims against him are not true.

Today, Alice thinks differently about her relationship with Brand. She wants Britain to change its laws to protect teenagers. Today, the age of consentAgreement with full knowledge. is 16 - meaning that in law, people who are 16 or over can agree to sex.

Alice wants Britain to have a "staggered" age of consent. This means that the age of consent would stay at 16, but no one over 21 could have sex with someone under 18.

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She thinks teenagers should be able to explore relationships, but only with people who are close to their own age.

The age of consent is different in different countries. In Nigeria it is just 11. In Germany and Italy it is 14. It is 15 in France and Sweden.  

In some countries the age is much higher - 20 in South Korea and Nepal and 21 in Bahrain.

The staggered systems is already in place in some states in the USA. And Britain is one of many countries around the world where people are rethinking the laws about consent.

Yes! The age for drinking and voting in the UK is 18. If 16 is too young for these things, then it is too young to agree to sex too.

No! People aged 16 should be able to explore relationships. But this should always be with someone who is the same age as them.