Govt Sticks To 18 Years For Sexual Consent
THE Government yesterday said it intends to retain the age of consent for sex and marriage at 18 years, despite pressure from opponents who want it reduced.
By Geresom Musamali
THE Government yesterday said it intends to retain the age of consent for sex and marriage at 18 years, despite pressure from opponents who want it reduced.
Gender, labour and social development minister Zoe Bakoko Bakoru said the Government had no intention of initiating or supporting legislation to reduce the age limit.
“We believe that we must stand firm for the sake of our children. We are not going to accept to reduce the age of consent to below 18 years. The poverty that the people attribute to such practices is in fact poverty of the mind,†said Bakoko Bakoru, at a consultative meeting with development partners at her offices.
“A father who sexually abuses his own daughter has lost his morals and integrity. It has nothing to do with lack of money. The teacher who earns a salary still corners his pupil delivering books to his residence. The salary does not prevent him from molesting the child,†she added.
Bakoko Bakoru was reacting to a report by African Network for Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) organisational development programme officer Wilbroad Ngambi that 66% of all pending court cases are of child sexual abuse. Ngambi said Kawempe Police Station alone had 1,330 child sexual abuse cases in 2001, and that most of those cases had not been resolved by the High Court.
He said some cases were reported to child rights protection groups and the Police late.
He said in one case last year, a victim died while still undergoing medical treatment.Ngambi said there were attempts to settle matters privately within family circles, with the parents ending up accepting meagre compensation.
Unicef’s deputy country representative Kari Egge and Dr. Regina Mbabazi, of ILO attended.
Ends
THE Government yesterday said it intends to retain the age of consent for sex and marriage at 18 years, despite pressure from opponents who want it reduced.
Gender, labour and social development minister Zoe Bakoko Bakoru said the Government had no intention of initiating or supporting legislation to reduce the age limit.
“We believe that we must stand firm for the sake of our children. We are not going to accept to reduce the age of consent to below 18 years. The poverty that the people attribute to such practices is in fact poverty of the mind,†said Bakoko Bakoru, at a consultative meeting with development partners at her offices.
“A father who sexually abuses his own daughter has lost his morals and integrity. It has nothing to do with lack of money. The teacher who earns a salary still corners his pupil delivering books to his residence. The salary does not prevent him from molesting the child,†she added.
Bakoko Bakoru was reacting to a report by African Network for Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) organisational development programme officer Wilbroad Ngambi that 66% of all pending court cases are of child sexual abuse. Ngambi said Kawempe Police Station alone had 1,330 child sexual abuse cases in 2001, and that most of those cases had not been resolved by the High Court.
He said some cases were reported to child rights protection groups and the Police late.
He said in one case last year, a victim died while still undergoing medical treatment.Ngambi said there were attempts to settle matters privately within family circles, with the parents ending up accepting meagre compensation.
Unicef’s deputy country representative Kari Egge and Dr. Regina Mbabazi, of ILO attended.
Ends