The proposed increase of consent age in defilement laws takes parenting responsibilities from parents to government

Of recent the public has been invited to discuss and engage on the proposed amendment to the penal code and with specific reference to, and in respect of the offence of defilement. The suggestion points towards an amendment that would raise the age of consent to sexual intercourse by a minor from 16 years to 18 years.

It is an all encompassing law which includes both boys and girls I would assume.

I had an occasion to listen to people engage leisurely on the topic and figured just how misunderstood and confusing the offence of defilement is to people vis-à-vis the offence of rape. It is important to note that the point of departure on the two offences is that with regards rape, the law suggests that the perpetrator must have sought sexual gratification of another without their consent. As regards defilement, the perpetrator must have had sexual intercourse with a person below the age of 16.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

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