Child pornography is increasingly rearing its ugly head in The Bahamas, according to Minister of Social Services and Community Development, Melanie Griffin.
Mrs Griffin, who spoke on the issue in the House of Assembly Thursday, told parents not only to monitor their children’s movements but also to get to know the people with whom they associate.
“Parents also need to warn their children about having their pictures taken by others,” she said. “What may seem to be an innocent, harmless act may be distorted and altered for evil and illegal purposes.”
She added, “Particularly, when somebody wants your children, when they go to any function, to take off their clothes and take photos, a flag should go up immediately.”
In giving further tips, Mrs Griffin said parents should not place computers in their children’s bedroom but rather in a general area in the home, accessible to all. She also said parents should get to know the websites their children surf as well as the passwords of their e-mail(s) and other private accounts.
The Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act, 1991, does not specifically address child pornography but says that all pornography is prohibited in The Bahamas.
The Act says the offence of pornography is defined in the penal code as ‘obscene publication’ in section 510, title XXXI, and punished by two years of prison.”
The Act addresses sex with minors and reads: “Any person who attempts to have unlawful sexual intercourse with any person under fourteen years of age, whether with or without the consent of the person with whom he attempted to have unlawful sexual intercourse, is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.”
An adult having sexual intercourse with a child between 14 and 16 years would be subject to a minimum prison term of eight years.
By: MINDELL SMALL, The Nassau Guardian
