Carnal Knowledge: more incidents or just more reports?
Almost everyday on this newscast we report some man being charged with unlawful carnal knowledge. And the statistics released by the police department on Wednesday, reveal that the number of reported cases of the crime rose from sixty-six in 2007 to ninety-eight in 2008. That’s a staggering increase of forty-eight point five percent. Are there more adults having sexual relations with minors or is it the awareness campaign by social partners that is encouraging abused individuals to break the silence and make reports? That’s what Judith Alpuche, C.E.O. for the Ministry of Human Development and Social Transformation, addressed today when she visited our studio.
Judith Alpuche, C.E.O., Min of Human Dev and Social Transformation
“The rise in the numbers is of course alarming to us in the social sector, particularly in the child protection sector. And I do believe that there is some merit in saying that the increase is due, in part, to the public awareness that has been done over the last couple of years. People are more aware that this is a crime and I think more and more people are beginning to understand that this is not what we want for our children and that this is unacceptable. Chief among those who have led the charge with regard to public awareness, the NGO community has been very active in this regard particularly, the Youth Enhancement Services that has, I think for the past two or three years, done serious and very robust campaigns against sexual abuse and exploitation of children. I suppose everyone has been exposed by now to their various public service announcements and so forth. They’ve done ads, they’ve done all sort of things and a lot of advocacy to change the system and the laws. NOBCAN has done its part, The National Community for Families and Children has always been actively involved in these issues and I know for a fact, Channel Five still shows some of those public service announcements having to do with sexual abuse of children, that’s been done by NCFC, UNICEF is a stalwart supporter of these efforts and even the government of Belize.”
“I must also mention one development for 2008I think that was fantastic is Fathers Against Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, they call themselves. I think that’s a fantastic example of a community organization and just the general public and fathers out there just standing up and saying this is unacceptable and raising their voices. That kind of action sparks people. The public awareness that has gone on for the past couple of years has definitely to be credited to some extent but we don’t’ know for sure what percentage need to be credited to that. There may be an increase in incidence as well. We don’t know for sure because we have an incidence study that has been done in Belize. So perhaps if we are realistic a little bit of both.”
Alpuche also mentioned that the laws governing carnal knowledge are written specifically for adult males who abuse minors. She says that they intend to push for measures to amend the law so that adult females can also be prosecuted for the same offence.
