7 Cups 5th Birthday Day 5: 5 Facts about Sexual Freedom throughout the World
This year, for 7 Cups's 5th birthday, the Sexual Health team wants to share 5 facts for 5 days about different Sexual Health topics!
Last but not least: Sexual Freedom throughout the World
Before we get started with this one I would like to say this post may talk a little on religious and political issues regarding sexual rights and we do not wish to offend anyone so if you disagree with anything please try to remember this is supposed to be informative and you're allowed to feel differently <3
1. In a lot of Islamic countries, they use the Shariah Law for a lot of their countries laws. In many of these countries regardless of your own religious views and other such stuff they have laws such as sex with someone you aren't married to being Illegal. You can see this as very unfair as you are forced in a way to cater to someone else's opinion on how people should be.
2. A lot of people would consider same sex relationships okay and normal, and the number of these people are slowly increasing, however in 72 countries same sex relationships are illegal, with it criminalised for women in only 45 of these. This shows that although hundreds of countries allow it a good number still don't, with punishments being as severe as death in a few of them, this is quite frightening as when people participate in this relationships even between 2 consenting adults they still find it illegal even though it doesn't affect anyone else.
3. Prostitution can be a touchy subject in if it should be allowed or not, however the ability to sell the service of sexual acts is legally allowed in 8 European countries, and the state of Nevada in the USA. This however doesn't mean being 'a pimp' is legal, and prostitution can still be dangerous and open the door for abuse and sex trafficking. So even if it's legal where you live if you wanted to do it, it'd always be a good idea to be careful with it no matter what. This being said there is still illegal prostitution is lots of countries which might show a need for a reform or change in a way, or more regulated ways it can be handles if made legal in more places, such as brothels with safety checks and such as a few countries do have in place.
4. Every country and culture has it's own ideas and laws about when you should be legally able to consent to sex, this most commonly being around ages 16 to 18, however in some countries it can go very low, the lowest being Nigeria which has an age of consent of 11. Where anyone who is 11 or older is legally allowed to consent to sex with anyone else over the age of 11. This is surprising as a lot of countries with the lower numbers such as japan also have other laws included. Japan has 13+ however, if you are 13 you can only consent to sex with someone also 13 or is 14. And this is handles akin to the way to federal laws in the USA where different places within japan can be stricter and say only 18+ for example.
5. Sodomy can be defined as a law against certain sexual acts, typically referring to acts (that may be considered immoral) such as oral sex, anal sex, and bestiality. Although a lot of leading countries in the world for freedom allow oral and anal sex, there are still some that have laws against in, including 14 US states where it is technically illegal to perform these acts still. This in some places can go as far as being punishable by death in countries such as Iran.
This post has been made to let people in on some insight of how things that seem normal or wrong to you can be the opposite in other places in the world. If you ever travel to a different country and wish to perfect any sexual acts while there it may be a good idea to learn the countries laws before you go, and example of this is people who like to holiday in Dubai might not realise premarital sex is illegal there when going with a partner they are not married to. I hope everyone can read through this and see how a lot of the world can be really different with different thoughts ideas and culture. And maybe even see how they can be lucky in some ways in the freedom they have in things that other people may not.
Resources (related to help if you are in a bad position based on one of the facts):
https://musliminstitute.org/freethinking/gender/islams-lgbt-allies
https://www.humantraffickingfoundation.org
https://realforwomen.wordpress.com/impacts-on-women/prostitution-industry/womens-orgs-worldwide-support-nordic-model/
To add to #3, in Canada prostitution is legal. That is, it is legal to accept money for sex. It is illegal to pay for sexual services.
The reasoning for this - in a simplified way - is that it was seen as pushing some victims, fining or jailing those who engage on the selling side of prostitution was though of as having a net negative effect.
@AffyAvo
Ooooh this seems interesting, sorry for this but I am having difficulty reading the end of that can you possibly rephrase it for me?
@Keanan The reasons why people enter prostition vary, but for many it's because of exploitation . So it was seen to be harmful to be punishing people for prostitution, by fining them money or putting them in jail, as they are often being victimized.
Interestingly, looking at wikipedia there are quite a few countries where it is the opposite - prostitution is illegal, but paying for sex is legal. I think some of the reasons for that are due to sexism (higher rates of women and gender minorities involved in prostitution) as well as money/power
@Keanan
This is so sad 
In Indonesia, LGBTQ+ is not valid and some other cities/province punish them for being homosexual/lesbian etc.
Indonesia may be religious, but this is not a wise way to face it.
Thanks for sharing these facts, unfortunately sexual freedom still has a long way to go in many places, particularly regarding women's rights and LGBT rights. That's why activism is so important!
