Welfare officer in support of age of consent reform

Acting Chief Child Welfare Officer Martin Anthony is supporting calls for legislation to be implemented to have the age of consent in Dominica raised from 16 to 18 years.

Magistrate Tiyani Behanzin had recently spoken against a recent upsurge in child sexual abuse on the island, reasoning that the age of consent should be changed from 16 to 18 years. At the time he was addressing a forum at the Trafalgar Community Center.

Anthony said that while the matter is debatable, any action taken to protect children will be given his full support.

I am in full support of anything which would give greater support to the protection of the children in Dominica, including legislative reform,” he said.

Martin said the age of consent is not the only issue affecting children on the island.

“Enforcement of legislation, such as the imposition of stronger penalties, parents stop out of court settlement and also support facilities for children are other issues that must be addressed,” he added.

The age of consent was raised from 14 to 16 years a few years ago.

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19 Comments

  1. claude weekes
    March 9, 2011

    that is all bull! even 12 year old girls taking they hard bord n ow, nothing skerit niether the police not even welfare niether the people can stop young girls from taking hood now .the world well spoil,woman are more sexually active than ever!

  2. ini
    August 13, 2010

    @SEWO: ROFL

  3. Adel
    August 13, 2010

    yeah like thats gonna change them!

  4. August 13, 2010

    WEL SA THINGS GO REAL BAD THESE DAYS BUT THIS YOUNG GIRLS HOT LIKE PEPPER I HEAR IS IN D RECTUM THEY TAKING D BOD NOW LOL.

  5. positive supporter
    August 13, 2010

    I support that motion wee. 18 good.

  6. SEWO
    August 13, 2010

    @ini: A young girl who has gone through puberty body changes. It then becomes natural for her to bear a child and become sexually aroused becuase thats nature. But should a young girl’s feelings compare to a grown man’s actions? I am not saying that these girls are not reponsible but a grown man should know right from wrong and not to trouble people children. let them find a woman who is experienced and who can satisfy them. What pleasure can one get from a 15 year old.. i am pretty sure all she does is just lie there and takes what she gets until the man is finished with her.

  7. ini
    August 13, 2010

    @SMALLEE: reguardless of all that you said, and despite all the man-made institutions that stipulate and dictate how we should view our world/societies in reference to age as the case may be, the fact remains that, even if u claimed their minds are not capable of making sexual decisions their bodies sure are capable of giving birth to children as you correctly stated. Let us not forget the mind does not exist without the body and vice versa! Doesn’t that stand for anything sensible or at least accountable or noteworthy? How are their bodies capable of performing sexually/birthing… but their minds are incapable of fathoming the act, because they can’t buy their passport or clothes? I do not follow. All your points were one sided as if you have never seen things as they really are. Moreover, if it is not rape, then how can the man only be held accountable just because he is older? After all we’re talking about the same 15yr olds who pass exams that you would fail today, even after having already done them. She was as much a part of it as he was! Maybe if the young girls were also jailed because they want to do adult things for cell phones and clothes their mothers can’t afford, we would see a swift change. If they want to do adult things, I then say they should be treated as such!

  8. concern
    August 13, 2010

    well, well, some men ignore once again the understanding and acceptance of the age of consent. The best way to get it straight is if the men who doe not care has a girl that age. When your own daughter is abused it makes life different for you as a person.A child who can’t judge danger for he or herself is always at risk of many things which the grown men are totally aware of, but the men are just wickid and bad.

  9. concern
    August 13, 2010

    This is an excellent idea, because too many grown men are taking advantage of school students who are usually about the age of 16 years. Please assess the situation properly to ensure that children below the age of consent are properly educated on a regularly basis about their rights. Too many times children are afraid to tell their parents when they are under attack. some of them are exposed to diseases and risk of pregnancy, and are sometimes vulnerably to abortion.

    The children need to understand at early age that they are protected by the law in this regard to built up their self esteem and ease up the peer pressure. Most times when one is abused sexually, it rubs on the other peers. It is a challenge the teenage girls face when they begin see their period and they need help in every area to understand the hormonal changes.

  10. SMALLEE
    August 12, 2010

    @hm: YES IT IS. a 30 year old man should be held responsible for his actions. Would you feel right to know a 30 year old man is having sex with your 15 year old daughter. She does not have the right or the privillege to vote, she has to ask you for money for food, clothing and shelter therefore he should use his sense and know that she cannot make a sensible judgement to indulge in sexual activities. She is even too young to obtain a passport by herself. so Yes it is abuse and he should be jailed. These men are having sex with these young girls some of them even have babies by them and i am sure the 15 year olds can tell you they dont even know what an orgasm is. Leave the young girls alone.

  11. a a
    August 12, 2010

    well a a how i going to take my hard thing now :P

  12. hm
    August 12, 2010

    @Sence: Take your time to read senCe…its sense.u’ve got not.they are talking about child sexual abuse.when you agree to it, then there is no way that it can be an abuse, There is not one person that can convince me that if a Man in his 30s has sex with a 15 year old and she wants it that it is abuse.NONE SENSE.

  13. HMMMM(1)psychic
    August 12, 2010

    I agree with the judge. Some of them think they too grown at 16 when they can’t even well take care of themselves.

  14. Anonymous
    August 12, 2010

    I Second D Motion!!!!!

  15. cute
    August 12, 2010

    i agree too many of our young girls are loose

  16. meeroro
    August 12, 2010

    haha ! well change it to 21 nuh !

  17. de caribbean change
    August 12, 2010

    The age of consent should be raised to 50. That way everybody is protected.

  18. Sence
    August 12, 2010

    What’s going to happen to the young ladies and men who are already having sex? are they to stop and wait for another 2 years? can any of us who are already having sex stop and take a 2 year break? if this law is passed they better extend the prison because sex is like pringles once u pop you can’t stop.
    I THINK 16 YEARS SHOULD STAY. or extend the prison :)

  19. dominican@heart
    August 12, 2010

    I support that straight…….

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