By Belize Live News Staff: Church Senator Louis Wade is calling on the Government to raise Belize’s age of consent from 16 to 18.
Wade says the current law creates a gray area for young people between 16 and 18, many of whom are still in school or in youth groups.
He argues that while a person is not considered an adult until 18, the law allows them to make sexual choices at 16. According to Wade, that gives predators an opening to wait until a young person turns 16 before making advances that would otherwise be illegal.
Wade says the churches have asked the Government to change the law, but the request has been denied.
He pointed out that Belize has already raised the minimum age of marriage from 16 to 18, and says the age of consent should follow.
“I think it needs to be fixed,” Wade said.
His comments come amid renewed public concern over sexual abuse cases involving people in positions of trust, including the recent charges against Pastor Kevin Tzib.
