Jamaica's lawyers will be taking sex education - legally speaking - into the classroom.

In a effort to educate students on the seriousness of sexual offences, the Advocates' Association of Jamaica will be conducting lectures at a number of schools in the Corporate Area.

Association President George Soutar said the number of young schoolboys appearing before the courts charged with sexual offences was shocking.

He said it was apparent that many of them were not aware of the seriousness of the offences.

"It is alarming that many of the boys do not know that a girl under 16 cannot consent to sexual intercourse," Soutar lamented.

Raising awareness

He revealed that members of the association took the decision to raise the awareness of students, including girls, on the issue. Guidance counsellors will also be exposed to the information that will be conveyed to the students. Soutar said guidance counsellors would be able to impart the information when called upon to do so.

One of the reasons for the decision to educate the students stemmed from the large number of sexual offence cases coming before the courts. Soutar is optimistic that the lectures will help to reduce the number of cases.

"In the last two years, there has been an increase in sexual offences, generally that come before the courts but noticeable are carnal abuse cases involving students, some as young as 13 years," Soutar said.

High level of ignorance

Soutar said the members of the association also noticed a high level of ignorance of what constituted carnal abuse. He said male and female students felt that once girls consented, no offence was committed. He said when such cases come before the courts, they had traumatic consequences for students, parents and guardians.

The Ministry of Education has embraced the association's programme and has asked that it be expanded to include guidance counsellors.

The lectures will begin in April.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com