Britain already has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Western Europe.
Proposals to lower the age of sexual consent in Northern Ireland have been strongly criticised by a rape crisis centre.
The Belfast Rape Crisis Centre joins the Roman Catholic church, evangelical Protestant churches and the Democratic Unionist Party in opposing the proposed change in age from 17 to 16.
The centre's Eileen Calder said: "Our concern is to protect vulnerable young men and women from older sexual predators."
She added: "What we are concerned about is men in their 20s, 30s, 40s and older preying on young people. And that applies to the gay community as well as the heterosexual community."
Paul Goggins, the Westminster Government's Criminal Justice Minister, defended the proposals. He said: "Many 16 year-olds who need help and advice would be reluctant to come forward because they would, by definition, be seen to have broken the law."
The Government will face continued opposition to the plans from churches and DUP politicians, who have vowed to resist the moves.
David Simpson, MP for Upper Bann, said: "The country is in a moral mess and instead of loosening morals further, the Government should be embarking on a programme of education and responsible parenthood.
"The bringing of life into the world should be based on the love between two responsible adults rather than a casual fling between immature 16-year-olds.
"We are talking here about the bringing up of children in a tough world and lowering the age of consent would mean an increase in single parent families where teenagers - who should be enjoying life - are anchored with the responsibility of bringing up babies when they are neither old enough nor mature enough."
