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Putting teens in jail to be raped is appalling

Mar 31, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
I’m composing this letter with regards to the concerns of UNICEF representative Ms. Marianne Flach and teenage pregnancies. Her sentiments are similar to many other American-based NGO rights activists in the Caribbean.
Currently, the age of sexual consent in Guyana is 16. It was raised from 13 to 16 around 2005 in response to gender and child rights activists concerns that 13-year-old girls are becoming victims of sexual abuse and teenage pregnancies. There is a clause under the Sexual Offenses Act where an authority figure can be liable for a criminal charge if he/she engages in sex with a vulnerable person under 18.
Recently, UNICEF representative Ms. Flach is concerned that 16 and 17 year olds are not able to access confidential sexual health services because they are not the age of majority, which is 18.
Instead of proposing a law to allow 16 and 17 year olds to access sexual health services, many of these rights activists aim to raise the general age of consent from 16 to 18. This will result in an 18-year-old person becoming liable for Camp Street prison if he engages in a sexual relationship with a 16 or 17 year old.
This will also result in many teenagers becoming at-risk of contracting HIV/AIDS from unprotected anal sex while in prison because of that law.
One should note that at the UK has their age of consent at 16, with some countries in Europe having their age of consent at 15. Brazil age of consent is 14 and French Guiana age of consent is 15. The United States have their age of consent at 16 and 17 in at least forty states. The US states which have their age of consent at 18 allow age exceptions for teenagers from 15-17.
I’m afraid that Ms. Flach along with the foreign rights activists are not acting in the interest of anyone but themselves. I’m concerned that raising the age of consent will put many consenting older teenagers behind bars in a justice system where a person can wait months, if not years for a trial.
The solution to curbing teenage pregnancies is not to criminalize teenagers and young people, but for teenagers to be provided appropriate health services and support in order to make the right decisions. Forcing teenagers into Camp Street, jail to become victims of anal rape and HIV/AIDS, while American female teachers are engaged with sex with very young male students and receiving sympathy for their crimes, is highly unfair to the rights of the teenagers and people who are in consenting relationships.
Marvin Persaud

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