A recent child sexual abuse case in Grenada has intensified calls for legislative reform regarding the age of consent for reproductive healthcare. Roy Jude Aki, a 40-year-old fisherman from Carriacou, received a criminal sentence for repeatedly abusing a child under 10 years old, highlighting systemic failures in both legal protection and preventive education.
The Grenada Planned Parenthood Association (GPPA) and Advocates for Safe Parenthood: Improving Reproductive Equity (ASPIRE) have formally endorsed proposed amendments to the Age of Civil Legal Responsibility Bill. The current proposal would lower the age of autonomous access to sexual and reproductive health services from 18 to 16, with provisions for further reduction given sufficient justification.
Citing comprehensive regional data, these organizations argue that compelling evidence already exists to justify immediate reduction below the proposed age threshold. They reference Guyana’s existing policy permitting HIV testing without parental consent at any age as a regional precedent worth emulating for all sexual health services.
Beyond age restrictions, advocates question the effectiveness of punitive measures alone in addressing systemic sexual violence. The case of Mr. Aki—a repeat offender—demonstrates the limitations of incarceration as both deterrent and solution. Instead, organizations emphasize the need for earlier sexual education and cultural prevention strategies rather than relying exclusively on punishment after offenses occur.
The organizations have recommended complete elimination of age barriers for sexual health services, asserting confidence in healthcare professionals’ ability to provide appropriate care regardless of patient age. They stress that legal reform must accompany educational initiatives to create meaningful protection for vulnerable youth.