It is perfectly understandable that some well-intentioned citizens are concerned at the lack of consultation before the presentation of a bill affecting parental authority is presented to Parliament.
However, we hope that they will not allow their just concern for due process to overrun the substantive value of the [Age of Civil Legal Responsibility] bill.
When we think of parental consent, we reflexively think of a wholesome family. Why would we want a law to intrude into a healthy family? The likelihood is that the law would be irrelevant to such a household. It would do no harm.
But all households are not healthy. Far from it. Our survey of women visiting family planning clinics in 2 Eastern Caribbean islands revealed that almost 1:5 women (18.6%) reported being sexually abused as children, and a study in Grenada among students who were sexually active, about 15% of boys and 15% of girls experienced forced sex. And this is probably an underreporting.
Children trapped in unhealthy families need the protection this law provides. The law will reduce the vulnerability of girls and boys and remove the constraints on healthcare workers.
The bill does not erode healthy parental relationships. The bill does not prevent parents from attending healthcare visits for sexual and reproductive matters with their adolescents. The bill does provide adolescents with rights in family situations where they need them.
Without this law, we compel vulnerable girls and boys to seek permission from their likely abusers, who are often within their families. Surely that is an unreasonable cost to pay for our value on parental authority.
We urge the Government to proceed.
Sincerely,
Tonia Frame, President, Grenada Planned Parenthood Association (GPPA)
Fred Nunes, Consultant, Advocates for Safe Parenthood: Improving Reproductive Equity (ASPIRE)
GPPA’s Youth Advocacy Movement (YAM)
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1:5 women (18.6%) reported being sexually abused as children and yet some citiens ar objecting to a law for protection? There some disgraceful men in Grenada and Grenadian men elsewhere. Or is it all black Caribbean men who are keen to be able to molest under age girls.? Something is rotten in the sunshine