CHILDREN’S Advocate Mary Clarke yesterday said her office will be advocating for an amendment to the Sexual Offences Act to penalise girls who have consensual sex with older men.

“That is why I firmly believe that under the new Sexual Offence Bill, girls where they are responsible should be held responsible,” Clarke said during a function to honour fathers who play active roles in the lives of their disabled children Wednesday at St Pauls United Church in Kingston.

“We have girls who have consented to these sexual activities… We must today hold young girls accountable for their behaviour. Where the activity is forced, punish the man,” she emphasised.

Fresh out of a meeting with the Joint Select Committee of Parliament to finalise a report on the bill on Wednesday, Clarke said she had asked her “legal team to make sure that that recommendation is at least considered”.

“We know how our girls are, they consent and they even encourage. I think it is unfair for the boys, always, alone to be charged,” she said.

Carnal abuse is defined as sexual intercourse with a girl who has not reached the age of consent, even if both parties participate willingly. Of the total number of arrests made last year, 43.8 per cent of the persons were locked up for rape and carnal abuse.

According to a UNICEF report, 346 cases of carnal abuse were reported in 2005 compared to 409 in 2004.

Yesterday, Clarke appealed to the public to refrain from being judgmental against the perpetrators as they may have been victims themselves.

“Many of these perpetrators have been previous victims themselves so we should not be quick to condemn them,” she said. “We must seek to help them and see how we can deal with these children.”

Under the law a person found guilty of carnal abuse can face life imprisonment.