Debate Guide: The kids do not want it

"Your arguments will only come into play, once children themselves start asking for sex. I have not heard a single one making such requests!"

Apathy is central to the oppression of many groups. The very definition of oppression is to undermine liberties with physical or mental tyranny. Minors, women and slaves would not be treated this way if they collectively stood up and challenged the status quo. In this sense, your argument could be used to justify the mistreatment of Arab women, and it is therefore unacceptable. It is worth noting that the process by which women and western children are silenced is exclusion and alienation from the civil rights discourse. Very few children have a concept of civil rights or activism, nor do they have the right to vote. Due to society's wishful denial of children's sexual appeal, youth are not driven to see themselves as sexually attractive and thus eligible. There is no way of asking for something that you are not even allowed to comprehend the existence of.

Your argument is also illogical, because in removing legal restrictions and encouraging freedoms we do not require someone's explicit will to exercise those new freedoms. It is simply good enough that these freedoms are there instead of prohibitions and railroading of individual agents into behaviour patterns that appease the force of authority. On the other hand, you are advocating coercion (from sex). So unless the consensus in lawmaking has shifted from "what should we prohibit?" to "what should we allow?", it is you who needs to provide evidence that age of consent laws improve more people's lives on the whole.

Please also note that lists of accounts and studies partially disprove your claims of apathy. Too often, we simply do not listen to those who would challenge our preconceived biases.