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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=Subheadline>Youth 'parliamentarians' call for harsher penalties</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>ALICIA DUNKLEY, Observer staff reporter
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=380 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>'Members of both sides of the House' at the start of proceedings at yesterday's staging of the fourth National Youth Parliament, in recognition of Youth Month at Gordon House in downtown Kingston. (Photo: Michael Gordon)</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>AFTER a spirited 'parliamentary debate' which threw out a call to castrate child sex offenders, scores of Jamaican youth yesterday called on the Government to impose harsher penalties for repeat offenders.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Expressing concerns about the continued occurrence of incidents of carnal abuse, more than 60 young people representing various organisations petitioned the Justice Ministry to lobby for further adjustments to the 2004 Child Care and Protection Act to penalise persons found guilty child sex offences.<P class=StoryText align=justify>They were participating in the fourth sitting of the National Youth Parliament at Gordon House.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The youngsters said that while they supported the Act, the present sanctions did not represent a sufficient deterrent to perpetrators who, even after serving time, often repeat the offence.<P class=StoryText align=justify>A call for the castration of such individuals from the 'Opposition Bench' was, however, shot down by members of the 'Government side' who said that while they were in favour of harsher penalties, respect for human rights should still be considered. The 'Opposition', however, stuck to its guns, arguing that incarceration of offenders was no guarantee that they would not return to their old ways, hence the call for castration.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The young people also urged the Government to fast-track the establishment of a national sex offenders registry, saying this would serve as an effective safeguard and discourage repeat offences.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Police statistics for major crimes from January to July 1 this year show that there were 238 reported cases of carnal abuse, a 38 per cent jump over the 173 cases reported during the corresponding period last year.<P class=StoryText align=justify>For August, 11 cases of carnal abuse were reported to the police compared to 41 reported in August 2005.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Under the Child Care and Protection Act, life imprisonment is the penalty for carnally knowing and abusing a girl under 12 years of age, while an attempt attracts a 10-year sentence. Carnally knowing and abusing a girl 12-16 years attracts a seven-year sentence.
Also, under the provision, cruelty to children attracts a $1-million fine.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The youth parliamentarians also recommended a ban on the showing of "hardcore pornography on local and cable television stations". They argued that such material was not fit for children, and fed the appetites of the perpetrators of sexual violence against females and children in particular.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The group, however, said it had no intention of placing all the blame squarely at the feet of station owners and content distributors. In fact, they said parents and guardians should play their part in screening their children's viewing habits.<P class=StoryText align=justify>They also argued that the attempt to rate programmes was far from adequate as sometimes unsuitable material was still shown.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The youth parliamentarians also called
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=380 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>'Members of both sides of the House' at the start of proceedings at yesterday's staging of the fourth National Youth Parliament, in recognition of Youth Month at Gordon House in downtown Kingston. (Photo: Michael Gordon)</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>AFTER a spirited 'parliamentary debate' which threw out a call to castrate child sex offenders, scores of Jamaican youth yesterday called on the Government to impose harsher penalties for repeat offenders.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Expressing concerns about the continued occurrence of incidents of carnal abuse, more than 60 young people representing various organisations petitioned the Justice Ministry to lobby for further adjustments to the 2004 Child Care and Protection Act to penalise persons found guilty child sex offences.<P class=StoryText align=justify>They were participating in the fourth sitting of the National Youth Parliament at Gordon House.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The youngsters said that while they supported the Act, the present sanctions did not represent a sufficient deterrent to perpetrators who, even after serving time, often repeat the offence.<P class=StoryText align=justify>A call for the castration of such individuals from the 'Opposition Bench' was, however, shot down by members of the 'Government side' who said that while they were in favour of harsher penalties, respect for human rights should still be considered. The 'Opposition', however, stuck to its guns, arguing that incarceration of offenders was no guarantee that they would not return to their old ways, hence the call for castration.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The young people also urged the Government to fast-track the establishment of a national sex offenders registry, saying this would serve as an effective safeguard and discourage repeat offences.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Police statistics for major crimes from January to July 1 this year show that there were 238 reported cases of carnal abuse, a 38 per cent jump over the 173 cases reported during the corresponding period last year.<P class=StoryText align=justify>For August, 11 cases of carnal abuse were reported to the police compared to 41 reported in August 2005.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Under the Child Care and Protection Act, life imprisonment is the penalty for carnally knowing and abusing a girl under 12 years of age, while an attempt attracts a 10-year sentence. Carnally knowing and abusing a girl 12-16 years attracts a seven-year sentence.Also, under the provision, cruelty to children attracts a $1-million fine.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The youth parliamentarians also recommended a ban on the showing of "hardcore pornography on local and cable television stations". They argued that such material was not fit for children, and fed the appetites of the perpetrators of sexual violence against females and children in particular.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The group, however, said it had no intention of placing all the blame squarely at the feet of station owners and content distributors. In fact, they said parents and guardians should play their part in screening their children's viewing habits.<P class=StoryText align=justify>They also argued that the attempt to rate programmes was far from adequate as sometimes unsuitable material was still shown.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The youth parliamentarians also called