A parenting support group aligned to the governing People’s National Party (PNP) has made a proposal that it believes may deter men who rape and molest underage girls.
The Family and Parenting Committee of the PNP wants the government to explore legislation that will make paternity testing and registration of fathers mandatory.
In addition, it wants the government to implement a resolution passed at the party’s annual conference in 2012 calling for a DNA database of all children born to underage mothers and victims of carnal abuse.
In a statement, the committee said these measures, if implemented, could help to arrest the high level of social dislocation and dysfunctional families caused by the absence of fathers or strong male role models.
It says the database of children born to underage mothers, and in cases of carnal abuse, would allow for perpetrators to be arrested and charged years after the offences have been committed.
Jamaica Gleaner