According to new legislation introduced in Parliament penalties would include life imprisonment for sexual penetration of a child. The proposed law defines a child as anyone under the age of 18.
Minister of Child Development, Senator Verna St Rose-Greaves, led off debate on the proposed bill Friday in the House of Representatives.
The Childrens Act 2012 was laid in the House on January 20. It will repeal and replace the existing Children’s Act.
Female genital mutilation will carry fines of between $50,000 and $100,000 and 20 years imprisonment.
Fines for child prostitution range range from $30,000 and five years imprisonment to $50,000, and 25 years imprisonment.
There is an exemption to Section 20 of the bill, which states that where a child is married “a person who sexually penetrates a child commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.”
Minister of Child Development, Senator Verna St Rose-Greaves, led off debate on the proposed bill Friday in the House of Representatives.
The Childrens Act 2012 was laid in the House on January 20. It will repeal and replace the existing Children’s Act.
It would also lead to amendments to a number of other acts, including the Summary Courts Act, Sexual Offences Act, Bail Act, Education Act, Children’s Authority Act, Liquor Licences Act, and Trafficking in Persons Act.
St Rose-Greaves told legislators that some of the offences will include female genital mutilation and other sexual offences, including causing, or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity with another person, or, an animal.
The act will also forbid:
St Rose-Greaves told legislators that some of the offences will include female genital mutilation and other sexual offences, including causing, or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity with another person, or, an animal.
The act will also forbid:
- sexual activity in the presence of a child
- causing a child to watch a sexual act
- exposing a child to pornography
- exposing a child to dangerous drugs
- using a child to sell, buy or deliver dangerous drugs
- failure to take reasonable precautions to guard against the risk of a child having access to a firearm, or ammunition, or giving, lending, renting or selling of a firearm to a child
The bill also makes provisions for children’s attorneys.
Under the provision of cruelty to children, fines will range from $50,000 to $100,000 and 10 years imprisonment. The proposed bill fines up to $100,000, and ten years imprisonment for exposing children to risks like burning, firearms, and ammunition.
Under the provision of cruelty to children, fines will range from $50,000 to $100,000 and 10 years imprisonment. The proposed bill fines up to $100,000, and ten years imprisonment for exposing children to risks like burning, firearms, and ammunition.
Female genital mutilation will carry fines of between $50,000 and $100,000 and 20 years imprisonment.
Fines for child prostitution range range from $30,000 and five years imprisonment to $50,000, and 25 years imprisonment.
There is an exemption to Section 20 of the bill, which states that where a child is married “a person who sexually penetrates a child commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.”
Under the Hindu and Muslim marriages acts persons under the age of 18 can be legally married with parental consent.
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