Consultant in the Ministry of Social Services, Martin Anthony, has called for a review of the Sexual Offenses Act in Dominica.
He said sexual abuse is a serious problem in Dominica and “we have to be on our guard.”
He made this statement at a workshop organized for media practitioners on Tuesday.
“We are in 2015 and you will agree with me that, isn’t it time to have certain aspects of that law reviewed?” he questioned. “And proposals have been made to look up on the law.”
He said in a discusion with a UNICEF official recently, observations were made that the law must be reviewed.
“He was doing something for UNICEF and we were looking at the Sex Offenses Act and possible changes,” Anthony said. “During our discussions, he observed areas in our law that needs to be reviewed. Although one may say when they look at Dominica law in comparison with the other islands, ours is very innovative, but already we have seen in the areas where it will have to be looked at a second time.”
He revealed that the UNICEF consultant believes some of the laws in Dominica concerning sexual matters are confusing.
“The law puts a provisory that if somebody is accused of a sexual offense and the individual says but I thought the child was over 16 years, the law says that can be put up as an offense,” he explained. “So the whole issue of age of consent, we spent a lot of time discussing the age of consent.”
Anthony noted that the law is not preventing the media from reporting on sexual offenses but “the bottom line is in the interest of the child, how do you go about it reporting sexual matters.”
“What the law is saying is there are instances you cannot publish everything,” he said. “We are not saying there that you do not inform the public but it is the manner you go about it.”
excuse me, Are we supposed to be private about child molesters and choose ways to inform the public about there sick crimes? personally i think that from the time a man molestes a child his name should be put out there in the public domain with flyers and stickers with his pictures to go with that. To say that in order to protect the child you have to hold back information is nonesense. how in master god’s world can you protect a child who has been molestesd by an adult by withholding the infomation?On the contrary holding back the information puts other children at risk as the dirty man or woman who is a molester is protected by the very same persons who are supposed to let the world know about them with there silence hence the opportunity to molest more children. that sucks
What about the reporting laws. I notice the catholic church has its own internal laws, but they should be required to report this to the civil authorities. Look the bishop just dismissed a priest for molesting 3 little girls over 20 years ago. Wouldn’t the civil authorities be interested in this. Did they really find him guilty of doing this? If the church investigation found him guilty then he is someone who could a danger to unsuspecting or vulnerable children. The way this was played out in the media it looked like he was the victim. Did he ever appeal his case?
Get your story staight. Did u see any priest molest anyone? You only make statements if u saw with your two eyes..
when we made a mistake,we always want to put the blame on some one and it does always work or never worked. secrecy means privacy.In this case we all are to be blamed. The Law is a sleeping tiger and until you break the law and get caught it does not exist. Crime Stoppers. Another number to report sex abuse.IT’S a start.
The more I think about this sad state the more I realize we may have a cultural problem. We may need to educate our young boys on the way they deal with women. Also our society has upheld aggressive male behavior as being macho and women are given little respect. There needs to be aan aggressive campaign/education of both young men and women and also parents on our behavior and attitudes, and enforcement of the current laws of abuse of women and children.
Does anyone know what is the process for having laws reviewed and revised in Dominica? Is it up to government ministers, permanent secretaries, workers, or the public to get together and draft changes to the laws? Once we are aware of the process, then we can begin to take action.
Consultant? but wasn’t he the Chief Welfare officer? But that is good that he is talking about this now.
UNICEF or not, from time to time all Laws need to be reviewed and changed. Some of the Laws are not only confusing but outdated and probably not enacted properly.
Decades go by and those Laws are not re-visited and changed to suit the times we are residing in. As it is said, times change and so do men and women; no exception children.
It is a serious matter and everyone’s business. They must be made aware of those Laws, as also children of a certain age. Furthermore, the schools should be involved by educating the children of a certain age accordingly.
Saying, “But I thought the child was over sixteen” is a cop out. First of all, you should not throw yourself at/on a child, i.e., making sexual advances and expect this of her. Are you dating her? Are you engaged to her? Do you plan to marry her? Ask yourself these questions and leave people’s children alone. Do not spoil their innocence.
Can’t control your desires? If this is your wish, find a consenting adult.
Le Facts alias clueless. How are you my friend?
Just a little clarity. Your post was well written congrats. However dig this.
UNICEF or not, from time to time all Laws need to be reviewed and changed. Some of the Laws are not only confusing but outdated and probably not enacted properly.
Reviewd & changed are the FACTS here. Wasn’t it you peeps who began to change the laws?ej ” No law no constitution can…………………….” U know the rest.-RM Skerrit 2010.
Saying, “But I thought the child was over sixteen” is a cop out. First of all, you should not throw yourself at/on a child, i.e., making sexual advances and expect this of her. Are you dating her? Are you engaged to her? Do you plan to marry her? Ask yourself these questions and leave people’s children alone. Do not spoil their innocence.
Can’t control your desires? If this is your wish, find a consenting adult.
The regime maniacs have been accused so opposition & prominent citizens they seem to just…
Now that we have identified the law needs to be review ans possible revisions made….Who in government has that action item to make sure this occurs? Also will anyone in government follow up with the public to advise of possible changes / revisions with the law?
What is Christian community doing to help abolish the laws that deny our children the very freedom of their childhood? Sitting back and doing nothing just like after PJ publicly denounced that men be chastised because of their hairstyle? What are the holly ones amongst is doing?
And parents continue to brutalize their kids and call it discipline… A man is not allowed to hit a woman with a belt or slap her but he us allowed to do it to a child… All abuse is abuse…
Please hurryyyyyyyy the process!!!!
Sex offenders names and photos should be made public and restricted to a distance to school area.
More numerous the laws more corrupt the state