Monday August 26, 2002
BROAD SPECTRUM OF SUPPORT FOR RAISING AGE OF CONSENT IN CANADA
Current Law is Hampering law Enforcement Agencies
OTTAWA, August 26, 2002 (LSN.ca) - UNICEF, Child Find and Beyond Borders, three child advocacy organizations not known for conservative stands have supported a measure long-pushed by social conservatives to protect children. The three groups have commenced a national postcard campaign to members of Parliament asking that the age of consent for sex be raised from the current 14 to 16.
The Liberal government rejected a Canadian Alliance motion to raise the age of consent in April. Canadian Alliance Justice Critics Vic Toews and Chuck Cadman voiced their support for the Beyond Borders initiative. "Unlike other western democracies, in Canada adults may legally have sex with children as young as age fourteen. The Alliance has consistently warned the Federal Government that this law is hampering the ability of law enforcement agencies to protect children from sexual predators. The current age of consent leaves children and teenagers open to becoming targets of pornographers, Internet sex scams, pedophiles and sexual abuse," said Toews.
The measure has received support from Campaign Life Coalition, REAL Women Canada, Focus on the Family and the Canada Family Action Coalition. A recent poll released in May found that 80% of Canadians believe that the federal government should raise the age of sexual consent from 14 years to at least 16.
The CBC reports that federal and provincial justice ministers are preparing options for the government to consider on the issue.
See related LifeSite coverage:
LIBERAL GOVERNMENT VOTES DOWN CHILD PROTECTION MOTION
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/apr/02042402.html
MAJORITY OF CANADIANS WANT STRONGER CHILD PORN LAWS AND HIGHER AGE OF CONSENT
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/may/02053105.html
See the CBC coverage:
http://cbc.ca/stories/2002/08/23/sex020823
See MP ENDORSES SEX UNDER THE AGE OF 16
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/apr/02042401.html
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO LOWER AGE FOR HOMOSEXUAL SEX
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2000/apr/00041304.html
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