The Criminal Law Amendment Bill which deals with sexual matters has made it legal for adolescents in South Africa aged 12 – 15 to engage in sexual relations without being prosecuted, provided the age difference is not greater than two years, reports the Independent Online.
Executive Director of Resources Aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (Rapcan), Christina Nomdo, says that people need to be aware hat the bill does not encourage sex among youngsters, but eradicates the risk of criminal action. She says:
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“The previous law was asking for criminalization in what we believe is normal behavior […] The law makes it clear it is not the government’s duty to raise children, but the parents’. We would like to support parents so their children make good life choices.”
Thailand Family Lawyers, Chaninat and Leeds have decades of experience in successfully handling divorce and other family issues Thailand between Thai’s and Internationals.
Spokesperson for Sonke Gender Justice Mbuyiselo Botha also welcomes the decision.
“It forces us, as parents and a community, to rethink sexuality. Why do we not educate our children about sex? We choose to criminalize it because it is the easier option.”
This new law remains controversial. Steve Swart, an ACDP MP and member of the portfolio committee on justice, says there is “still a lot of unhappiness about the decriminalizing of sex even if it is consensual sex between teenagers in view of the high levels of HIV/Aids, teenage pregnancies and abuse”.
According to the Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister John Jeffrey the new law was agreed following a “lengthy parliamentary process”. He says:
“Many saw it as a way to promote teenage sex. The bill is not saying that adolescents should experiment sexually. What it is saying is that they should not be criminalized. (We) still promote that they wait until they are mature enough to make choices about sex. It’s just that it can’t be a criminal offence.”
For the full story, see here.
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