The age of consent in Honduras

The age of consent is the age at which people can have sex permitted by law. It is understood that sex should be voluntary, without coercion, because otherwise it would qualified as rape or sexual abuse.

The Honduran law does not explicitly define an age of consent, although some authors, making analogies with other legal systems, consider the age of consent in Honduras to be of 15 years old.

The age of majority in Honduras is reached at the age of 21. At the age of 18 young people are considered “citizens” and have the right to obtain their identity card and cast their votes, but do not enjoy the full exercise of their rights.

Minors can only marry with parental permission. The minimum age for marriage is of 17 for women, and 18 for men.

Having sex with a woman between 15 and 17 years old abusing a position of trust, hierarchy or authority is considered estupro (corruption of a minor). The law does not cover the crime of estupro in the case of male victims, and no mention is made of homosexual relations.

Some people interpret that if there is no abuse of trust, hierarchy or authority (estupro), and no incest, no crime is committed. So the Honduran law would allow consensual sex at the age of 15. This means sex with minors is allowed in Honduras.

In the case of estupro or abduction of a woman over the age of 14 but under the age of 18, the offender will be free if he marries the girl.

The Honduran Code of Childhood and Adolescence prohibits the recruitment of people under the age of 18 for the making of pornographic scenes.

References
Penal Code
Family Code
Code of Childhood and Adolescence.