Norway
The age of consent in Norway is 16, as specified by the 1902 General Civil Penal Code §196: which reads: "Any person who engages in sexual activity with a child who is under 16 years of age shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 years." Aggravating circumstances as recidivism, multiple perpetrators, and unusual degree of degradation and pain, or physical harm (including, specifically, sexually transmitted diseases) may raise the maximum penalty.
The penal code on the age of consent is two-tierd. §195 of the same penal code increases the maximum penalty for sexual activity with a child who is under 14 years of age. According to Chapter 1 of the penal code, §195 applies also if the act was committed outside Norway and by a non-Norwegian citizen or resident.
Even though one may be found guilty of violating the age of consent code, if those involved are "about equal as regards age and development", the court can exercise its own discretion to suspend passing a sentence.
History
The age of consent for heterosexual sex has changed from the Viking age where it was from the onset of first menstruation, to after the Lutheran reformation from 20 years down to 16 years (enacted in the 60's).
Sexual relations between two women was never explicitly criminalized, but have been prosecuted under the general indecency law of the Civil Penal Code of 1842.
In 1951 a Norwegian ministry of justice white paper recommended de-criminalization of homosexual acts in the 1903 Civil Penal Code §213, but this was rejected by the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget). The ban on sex between men, which also outlawed cohabitation as well as sex with animals, was repealed in 1972.
Norwegian General Civil Penal Code (in Norwegian). Quotations taken from the Ministry of Justice's unofficial translation, though updated with current (September 2012) changes in the code.
Read more about this topic: Ages Of Consent In Europe
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