Advocacy group pushes for revision of laws designed to protect children

 

There is another push for the revision of laws designed to protect children against abuse.

 

The call from Child Watch Legal, an affiliate of advocacy group Hear the Children's Cry, comes against the background of a seeming increase in crimes against children.

 

The group said the inadequate alignment of punishment with the severity of the crimes needs to be urgently corrected.

 

It cited the recent sentence handed down to convicted rapist Davian Bryan, which has been described as light, and the abduction and murder of Danielle Rowe in Portmore, St. Catherine.

 

In arguing for stronger punitive measures in the law, Deseree Whittle, attorney for Child Watch Legal, said the aggravating factors which aid in sentencing should be widened. 

 

"When a judge is going to sentence someone for a crime, a child molester, there are several factors that the judge will take into account and this includes several aggravating factors. I would want to think that, well, the age of the victim is definitely one of the aggravating factors; and when it's a child, I would want to think that it should be such an aggravating factor that there should be no way that they should even think of lessening the sentences," she suggested. 

 

Ms Whittle, who was speaking Tuesday on TVJ's Smile Jamaica, said a strong message must be sent to people who harm children.

 

Another attorney with Child Watch Legal, Priscilla Duhaney, is in agreement with the public perception that the sentences for crimes related to children are too light.

 

Ms Duhaney appealed for judges to take into account the crime situation in the country. 

 

"Based on our legislation currently, it is usually between 15 to 25 years under the Sexual Offences Act if it is that an offender is found guilty of causing a sexual offence," she pointed out, adding this period can be lessened if parole is involved. 

 

"It doesn't do justice because when we look at even the most recent case of Davian Bryan who committed all of these assaults, rape, forceable abduction towards children, you see where not even a sentence can bring back that peace in that home or in that child," she contended. 

 

Davian Bryan pleaded guilty to multiple counts of rape, forcible abduction and other assault charges and is to spend just over 23 years behind bars.

 

He will be eligible for parole after 16 years.

 

Commenting on the sentencing, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck said a life sentence would have been appropriate and reiterated the need, in all cases including where the offenders have pleaded guilty, to consult with victims and or their families on a suitable sentence.