Girls call for stiffer penalties to prevent abduction, abuse
THOUGH PUBLIC awareness coupled with self-defence techniques serve as good countermeasures, an articulate crop of Westwood High School girls are calling on the Government for stricter penalties to be employed as a deterrent to the abduction and abuse, particularly, of girls and women.
“Persons get away with these wrongs against females because they don’t fear the current laws,” Bryanna Hylton, 16, head girl and Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR) associate child ambassador for Trelawny, told The Gleaner.
“Females are viewed as weak and incapable of retaliating, so in addition to being able to protect ourselves, they (the Government) should strengthen the laws to help prevent these horrible acts. More jail time.”
LONGER SENTENCES
While voicing her objection to capital punishment, Callia Brown, 16, stated that tougher sanctions would be needed to protect the most vulnerable – women and children – in society.
“We are a democratic country, so our opinions on issues of legislation matter as well. Once there is concrete proof of guilt, longer sentences and hard labour should come into effect.”
Tavol Johnson, 18, said that the wider public was unaware of the magnitude of the child-protection topic and that the conference would serve as a platform for airing potential solutions.
“I would like to see equal safety for both genders. I urge women to be careful and not allow themselves to be vulnerable to the menace in society that will prey on them and also for the men to have a better appreciation for and understanding of the value of women. Only when both genders play these roles simultaneously will there be a better country.”