Prostitution age of consent

The prostitution age of consent is the minimum legal age at which an individual can legally engage in commercial sex or prostitution. The age varies widely across countries and jurisdictions, reflecting different societal attitudes towards child labor, human trafficking, and exploitation concerns. In many places, the age of consent for commercial sexual activity may differ from the age of consent for other types of work or for consensual sexual activities between adults. Age of consent laws aim to protect minors from abuse, exploitation, and coercion but have been criticized for perpetuating harmful stigmas and increasing vulnerability among sex workers who are unable to obtain valid proof of age.