Under the new Children’s Act 2012, the age of consent has been increased from 16 years to 18 years
Aspects of the new children’s act were discussed at a high-powered workshop on Tobago’s Response to Sexual Assault, which was organised by the Division of Health and Social Services recently.
The workshop was attended by stakeholders involved in the battle against all forms of sexual and domestic abuse on the island including doctors, nurses, social workers, the police and the media.
Leading the discussion was Gaietry Pargass of the Ministry of Gender, Youth Affairs who pointed out that no one under the age of 18 years can give consent for any form of sexual penetration, according to the new law.
“A conviction also carries a stiff jail term of life imprisonment for sex offenders,” she declared.
According to Pargass, the new children’s act though passed in the year 2000 but only assented to in 2012. All that is needed now is for the new law to be proclaimed for its provisions to be enforced,” she stated.