Teenage pregnancy a crime?
Thursday, June 13, 2013
That means no hugging, kissing and gevoefeling while under the watchful eye of teachers.The students I teach have also been informed about the rule.It seems that the state also has a version of the 30cm rule: the Sexual Offences Act. Also known as "a bad idea".Many writers have explained why this is a bad idea and my interest on the matter will not be rehashing the debate. Rather, my thoughts about the idea of criminalising teenage consensual sex began when I started to question the rationale behind the Sexual Offences Act.
The debate has been raging since 2010 (if not before) and has surfaced once again.The Act seems to be a response to the alarming statistics on teenage pregnancy but more overtly, a need to control teenagers and their sexuality.The one side of the argument for decriminalising consensual sex among teenagers states that kids need to be educated about sex in environments that are non-threatening and access healthcare that will enable them to protect themselves. Schools are seen as one of the spaces where this education can be effective (if it isn't happening already).
We duly congratulate them to have ousted the long ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) from power. Prior to taking power from the BDP, the coalition had made several election promises that are credited for influencing change and swaying the people to vote in its favour.The party had made an undertaking, which its leader and President Duma Boko consistently bellowed in his campaign trail. These undertakings were promises that Batswana would be...