Consent

Consent occurs when one person voluntarily agrees to the proposal or desires of another. It is a term of common speech, with specific definitions used in such fields as law, medicine, research, and sexual consent. Consent, as understood in specific contexts, may differ from its everyday meaning. For example, a person with a mental disorder, a low mental age, or under the legal age of sexual consent may willingly engage in a sexual act that still cannot meet the legal threshold for consent as defined by applicable law. United Nations agencies and initiatives in sex education programs believe that teaching the topic of consent as part of comprehensive sexuality education is beneficial. Types of consent include implied consent, express consent, informed consent, and unanimous consent.