Another advocate for children in Dominica is supporting calls to review the age of consent, and have it increased from 16 to 18 years.
Local director of Child Fund Caribbean Francis Joseph says there are several reasons for the suggestion, that include the protection of the country’s children.
“You may want to have children focus more on education and investing in themselves and not be distracted. You do not want them to see that being sexually active at that early stage is an option. Sex and pleasure is always going to be there. Even if it is delayed it is a normal natural phenomenon that you will be able to undertake but once you lose that capacity to learn, it is usually very difficult to go back to a learning institution,” he added.
Joseph said if one misses an education, it will take a lot to get the opportunity again.
“If there is clarity in the law and the mission is geared at protecting the young children, then I think we should embrace and welcome it,” he stated.
When we decide to let our sexual drive control us that is what happens. Sex was meant for the bounds of marriage,but people don’t like good things. We can all control ourselves. Sex is powerful and can damage someone if they’re not ready but just think they are. Society says go do it,but when it’s done they then condemn you for doing it. Vanity of vanity saith the preacher,all is vanity. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be save.
I can’t believe anyone seriously believes that two seventeen year olds are going to stop what they’re doing and say, “Oh, that’s right, there’s a law. Let’s meet back here next year.” What’s the point of yet another law that no one will observe?
also why is the public allowed in the court room when a child abuse case is going on with the victim present,,,, this can bring serious pshychological effects on the child,,, the emberrasment and all other ills,,,, the child should give her/his statement to the investigators and should not ever have to appear in court once the evidence is there to prosecute the criminal,,,,, that business of taking a child out of school just to go to court is wrong,,,, it affects the childs moral and selfworth and confidence,,,, these are issues that the child advocates should take up
n one more thing,,,, how come it takes the courts so long to get child abuse cases going huh,,,, i know of a case lingering for like almost a year,,, n u wonder why these criminals have time to bribe the poor parents,,,, in the states any one charged with offending a minor faces a serious jail time and can be labeled a sex offender and cannot under any circumstance be allowed near children or places they meet e.g schools, church,, neighbourhoods,,,,, these people have to stay some limit away from such areas for some period which could mean years…. it seems that a violent crime is given lot more attention than child abuse cases,,,,, i’d like dno to do some investigation on that matter,,,,, so many child abuse cases getting pushed back more n more,,,, frustrating the parents,,,,,
@PAIN: thats the reason why they go out n do it,,, because society have promoted sex as some enjoyment do be enjoyed only by adults hhhmmm,,,, guess wat teens love to rebel its the natural order so they go out n do it against their parents will,,,,, THE MORE U SAY DOH DO IT,,,, they wonder why mammy doh want me to do that nah,,,, okay lemme see why,,,,, the best course of action is educating your child at home about the dangers and pleasures of it,,,, because dem fellas by d road will teach her a different version
changing the age of concent wont curb the sexual curiosity for young people however the main focus here seemsto be sex. why? SEX made us all and it will be here untill earth no longer exist there is nothing that we can do about that however speaking to children at an early age about sex and the responsibilites that go with sex may hel if we are not educated then we make foolish unchangeable mistakes that can never be changed. the stigma about under aged sex does not help our young people we need to be open and honest.we need to impliment ID cards that must be shown upon purchases of alcohol and cigarettes also to enter discos and certain functions too many children are loose in the place and this needs to be dealt with a a decent and mature manner.we say dominica oo slow so lets step it up people be like the outside world 18+1,000,000%
whether the age of conscent is 16 0r 18, young people still going to have sex.so it’s not like the age of conscent is a preventative measure!!!!!
That man like to be in the LIMELIGHT.
in my opinion the age of consent should be 21. Seriously speaking is a child capable of caring for another child or should parents be allowed to do that. Lets all come together for the betterment of our nation on a whole. An education is the most prized possession man can acquire, then all the rest will fall in line
I do not disagree with the age of 18 consent, but that does not really make a person a mature adult, with wisdom and understanding of Life and our existence in this world.
In Toronto the age of 18 consent allows those people to participate in certain function of living, as they are of illegal age for other functions. For example, it is illegal for a night club owner or manager to employ a sex dancer who is 15 years old. The law will charge that night club owner or manager and may even close down his/her business place.
Some people look younger than their age, especially because of their immature or childish attitude and conducts, and even if they are 18 years old, they must present an identification card, to buy cigarette, to shop at the liquor store, or even to buy a lottery ticket. These are some of the examples of age consent, which is 18 years in Canada.
But the thing about sexual relationship is a different situation. We cannot decide at what age two people must have sexual relationship, even if we should control a legal age limit between the two people.
A commentator observed that some people experience sex drives at early ages. Morally speaking, I would say that could be an unfortunate beginning for some of those people, but we really do not know what people must encounter in this world, before God decides to shape their lives, according to His Will and His Ways. I know what I am talking about.
I am saying that we should not try to interfere with two people who decide to have sex at the age of 14, 15, 16, and 17. Mother and father, family social group, youth group, church group, no one can counsel those people against their natural or human desires. That is the reason mothers and fathers should go down on their knees to beg God Almighty for His control in the lives of their teenagers and young adults, by the guidance of His Holy Spirit. For that is the time Satan comes in their lives to challenge them to live against God’s Will for their lives.
Those young people must have spiritual strength, that will teach them how to strive to control their desire of lust, sensuality, or passion, on their own. We can only help them by passing that education of self-control, in the attitude and conducts of lust, sensuality, and passion, on to our teenagers and young adults. Again, I am saying that I know what I am talking about; control over our sexual desires, or our passions of the flesh, can be achieved.
But then, we, who are the older adults must know the education of self-control, or the ideas that influence control of our passions of the flesh, that we may be able to suggest them to our younger adults and teenagers. Filling up our jail houses, by charging our young men with sexual offense will not solve anything.
Sex can only be enjoyed by ADULTS only. Children should wait for their turn.
Under the age of 18, they should be focusing on their education. boyfriend, girlfriend and sex will come in after. support the age of consent that should move up to 18 and above.
You are a man i respect quite a lot,and your role as a child advocate has caused me to admire you even more..You seem to be fearless in your conviction to speak your mindwhether it irritates other minds or not…. I AM IN TOTAL SUPPORT OF THE INCREASE FROM 16 TO 18….
a girl, at 16 is not mentally ready/mature to be thinking about stds, kids and the rest of the stuff that comes with consential sex.
she is not yet working and if she is, she is unprepared educationally for the world of work.
if she cannot afford a baby and cannot afford a doctor on her own. if her parents/guardian have to assist her financially, then consential sex should not be in her hand.
im 16 but by the time they will change it ill be over 18 so i dnt even care
@ fairlplay:
Raising the age of consent will “kill tow birds with one stone”. Not only will it put many more sexual predators behind bars as they deserve but it will also allow our young people (men and women) to be grow in age, become more mature, physically developed and to allow them to make a more informed decision as concerns their sexual activity. With age comes wisdom, an old proverb which manifests itself true in a situation like this. Think back and ask yourself, “had I waited until I was at least 18 yrs old, would I have slept with certain people whom I did at age 16?” Those two years really count. There are so many lessons that could be learnt in a space of two years, so many revelations that could surface, so many changes of mind and heart that could be had!
Mr. Joseph, I do applaud your efforts at trying to inculcate good behaviours and attitudes in our young people. I know that the matter of increasing the age of sexual consent in Dominica is a controversial debate but I do agree that is what needs to be done along with taking other approaches such as strengthening our Health and Family Life curriculum at schools, educating and reaching out to the parents who are not really “in tune” with children’s rights and establishing srticter punitive measures for sexual offenders as well as for children who are conscious of the law but still engage in these offenses. Trust me, there are young children out there who really give in to those situations. In summary, it is not a venture that should be taken up by one set of concerned persons but rather as a society.
I am a 30 yr man and I agree that they should increase the age to 18. Why is it that they (children) at age 17 legally adult according to age of consent are being called minors when it comes to voting, crimes, etc. Time to make all those laws be on the same level. 18 is 18 which means you’re an adult that can do adult things. I don’t care how good looking a 16 and 17 old girl looking…these laws were made by men who wanted it ok by law to check their sin on them like girls. Pure non-sense. Get a woman your age. That thing of after 12 is lunch must stop. We’re damaging the minds and bodies of our future.
I know there are going to be alot of children who will not be pleased then again we’re jus trying to protect them. Thats a good idea to increase the age.
p.s i dont care who click ‘dont like’
Them pervert law makers will never change it!!
The age of consent is 14 years in thr UK. It was the same in Dominica before the Freedom Party changed it while in government.Girls become sexual mature at age 14 to 15 yrs. Raising the age to 18 will only put more men in Jail because sexual drives and urges cannot be stopped.It is a matter of demand and supply.Giving the women what they want.Parents need to control their sexually hungry girls and not put all the blame on the males.
i do agree with the age of consent being change from 16 to 18 (10000%) agree.