Children’s Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison, is again recommending that the age of consent be raised to 18.
The recommendation comes as the Government reviews the S*xual Offences Act, the Child Care and Protection Act as well as related pieces of legislation.
Speaking at Tuesday morning’s sitting of Parliament’s Joint Select Committee looking at the S*xual Offences Act, Mrs Gordon Harrison said the change would provide protection against offences such as s*xual grooming.
“”Because it says all children do not have the ability to consent to s*x, it would offer that protection to the 16 year old girl who is being abused or who is in a relationship with a 62 year old man,” she outlined.
However, she said there would be exceptions so as not to criminalise children.
“We would insert these close-in-age-group exceptions that say if you are a child and you fall within this particular category…then you would be immuned from prosecution,” she asserted.
Mrs Gordon Harrison said this would apply, for example, to a 17 year old boy with a 15 year old girlfriend, or to two consenting 16 year olds.
In the U.S. any child over the age of 16 can legally get married with parent’s consent. I am a big proponent of statutory rape statutes. I suspect the rationale behind the proposed law is to discourage all those gunmen who prey on people’s children in the ghettos…but these people are ususally much to scared to go to the authorities anyway so that would render the law impotent.
At 16, every Jamaican child, particularly those in the inner cities are more than mentally equipped to consent. A 16 year old Jamaican child has more street smarts than an American 30 year old. That being said, I don’t see what she’s trying to accomplish.
She is trying to take the responsibility off the children that society poses . A child having streets smarts doesnt say that child’s brain is developed. Children are great mimics and a 16 year old is still not capable of making real decisions no matter how grown they act
I agree with this.. how can you be deemed fit at 16 to have sex but cannot drive get ur I.D, become employed or even drink/attend parties , drive etc.. smh this only allow easier access for pedophiles to target young girls
Sounds good to me. Dweet lady!
I agree with changing the age of consent to 18 years. However, strict laws should also be put in place where girls who get pregnant, their partners should be convicted and if the young ladies do not want to assist in prosecuting them the parents be held accountable somewhat. I think we would see drastic reduction in teenage pregnancies and men violating these young women being it consented or not.
I agree with changing the age of consent to 18 years. However, strict laws should also be put in place where girls who get pregnant, their partners should be convicted and if the young ladies do not want to assist in prosecuting them the parents be held accountable somewhat. I think we would see drastic reduction in teenage pregnancies and men violating these young women being it consented or not.
I agree, the government does not want to give you TRN until 17, Age of Consent at 16 is not right. Too young. Parents are still responsible until the “child” is 18 years of age.
Did she do a study before making this request?
16 is fine I dont see any reason to change it.
Shouldn’t even be a debate! if by law 18 is the age of an adult then 18 should be the age of consent and not 16! no debate, no discussion, too much pedophiles legislating theese laws!
fi real, I agree. a 16 yr old is given the go ahead to have ex by law, but when they get pregnant they are expelled from school and stigmatized.