Clarke

Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter

Children's Advocate Mary Clarke wants underage girls who willingly consent to sexual acts to be held accountable, under new legislation.

Clarke, who was addressing a Child Month activity of the Early Stimulation Programme of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security yesterday evening, at the St. Paul's United Church in St. Andrew, said many of the girls are just as responsible for what happens to them as the men.

"That is why I firmly believe that under the new sexual offences bill, girls, where they are responsible, should be held responsible," she said. "We have girls who have consented to these sexual activities."

She said that some of the boys who engage in these sexual activities with the girls are also underage. But, while they are arrested, the girls walk free, Clarke pointed out.

"Where the activity is forced, punish the men, yes, it is a violation of somebody's human right and somebody's body," she said. "But should those who have given consent, who have been part of the act, go free? I want us to think about that."

Meanwhile, the Children's advocate also called on the society to be more careful in how it reacts to incidents where girls have been seen on cellphones in compromising positions.

Negative reactions

She said because of the negative reactions, many of these girls are forced to leave their schools and homes.

"We must not be quick to condemn them, to put them out on the streets and to put them out of our homes," she pointed out. "We must seek help to see how we can deal with these children, they can be helped."

She also urged Jamaicans to plan for their children. She said one of the main reasons the country is having so many problems with its children is because these children were not planned for.

dionne.rose@gleanerjm.com