Are young people merely puppets in the hands of the adults?
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THE EDITOR, Madam:
We write with deep concern following recent radio commentary surrounding the proposal to increase the age of consent to 18. In that discussion, it was suggested that adolescents who engage in sexual activity should face imprisonment, albeit with suspended sentences, as a deterrent. Equally troubling were assertions that young people ought to be excluded from decisions affecting their lives on the basis that they “do not know better”, given that brain development continues until the age of 21.
Such perspectives are deeply concerning. They risk reducing young people to passive subjects of control rather than recognising them as rights-bearing individuals with evolving capacities. While protection is essential, punitive responses and exclusion from meaningful participation do little to address the complex social realities that shape adolescent behaviour. Instead, they risk further marginalising the very children we seek to protect.
Criminalising adolescent behaviour does not resolve the root causes of teenage pregnancy, nor does it produce safer outcomes. On the contrary, it may deter young people from seeking critical health services, guidance, and support — ultimately increasing their vulnerability. Evidence consistently shows that fear-based approaches are less effective than those grounded in education, access, and trust.
Importantly, Jamaican law already acknowledges adolescent autonomy in specific contexts. Under the Status of Children Act, minors age 16 may consent to medical treatment. This recognition of evolving capacity should guide broader policy considerations, particularly in relation to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
If we are serious about reducing teenage pregnancy and safeguarding youth, we must move beyond punitive responses. We must invest in education, strengthen support systems, and meaningfully include young people in the policies that shape their lives.
Children are not problems to be controlled; they are rights holders to be respected.
FI WE CHILDREN FOUNDATION