Put A Hand, Law!

If the recent revelation by the Minister of Education on the number of annual teenage pregnancies in Trinidad and Tobago appeared to be strange news to the nation, it should not, for almost every adult knows of a teenager who has been in this condition within the last year and to that, our response has been one of indifference and passivity.  Yet, we still wonder why.

Clearly, this norm speaks to a dereliction of some sort in the basic institutions of society that are charged with the principal responsibility of a child’s physical, social, mental and spiritual upbringing. The foundation blocks of the structures of human development appear to be crumbling. A mission and a vision for the young need to be activated. Objectives and modes of operation of the home, school, place of worship, community and state must be made realistic in the face of a paradigm shift in our social and educational environment.

Hand in hand with these is the law, the teeth of which must bite deeply into those areas that remain aloof to the dynamism of modification of the needs, levels of development and support systems that provide a sub-structure for the basic units. Without laws that are actually enforced and which are awake  to the rights of a child, all the grandiose plans for a curb in teenage pregnancies might as well remain on the drawing board and classified as mere cliché. Then, as a nation, we may as well become accustomed to the developing syndrome of children having children.

The Honourable Prime Minister led the way in this in calling for the enforcement of the law regarding statutory rape. But, it must not end there.  Any system that perpetuates shrinking or denial of a child’s rights must be stamped out. These rights are not merely privileges but the cornerstone of opportunities for formative development. They are clearly enunciated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child. As such, it is the duty of all lobby groups, organisations, media and every citizen to play their part to fiercely protect our children.

I am of the firm view that the legal age for marriage should be 18 years. Anything less than this puts an unconscionable disadvantage to the young child, who is unprepared physically, socially and mentally for parenthood. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as any human being below the age of eighteen, unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier. Each child has the right to grow and develop physically and spiritually in a healthy normal way. With laws that indirectly suffocate these rights, not only is the process of social and intellectual maturity curtailed but the overall full development of the individual is denied.

Decades ago, the social and economic climate was such that the extended family provided a firm support system in every home. Newlywed couples were groomed into parenthood and child-rearing by the elders in the family. With maturity, they gradually became acclimatized into the psycho-social train of household affairs; no problems then with a lower age of marriage. However, with the norm of nuclear families, working couples and other increasingly independent circumstances, new dynamics must emerge. These and other compelling reasons point to an urgent need to increase the legal age of marriage to 18. It is long overdue.

Additionally, the flawed should never determine the law. Instead, laws are made to enhance and encourage civility and should not be decided upon by exceptions. Unfortunate minors who have become victims of rape should be able to find comfort and support in the arms of the law. What should not be done, however, is to marry off the young defiled pregnant girls, just because the marriage age is 14.  Instead of plastering the sore, is it not better for all to increase the age of marriage and put some teeth into the law of statutory rape? Legislation with the vulnerable in mind is needed.

Apart from the law, education empowers and must be one of the most significant tools of defence against teenage pregnancies. No longer can schools be buildings that facilitate mere academia. No longer can the mandir, mosque, church, faith-based organizations, non-governmental and community-based organizations be the media houses of distribution of religious instructions, relief supplies, hampers, cultural and remedial classes. No more can the business community seek growth of material wealth only. A united effort by all is needed to educate and protect the young and vulnerable youth as they blossom into responsible adults.

The implementation of character and citizenry education in our schools is commendable. Sex education is a necessity. However, such a syllabus must address social factors and must ensure that moral values are promoted. For the success of the programme, it must be age and maturity-appropriate and must be taught by professionally trained teachers.

To protect our young is the duty of every mature citizen of our nation, every village, every community, civil society and each organisation that has the general uplift of our people at heart. Each must play his role in helping the youth to develop to his mature potential. It is our civic responsibility. If not, we will become victims of the very society we failed to help.

Paramacharya Pt. Hardeo Persad

Spiritual Head,

SWAHA