Officials of the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, hosted a one-day Symposium on the proposed Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, at SuperClubs, Breezes, September 15, 2022. In attendance were representatives of the three branches of government — Executive, Legislative and Judicial, and also large number of clergy, civil society, and various community organizations.
Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Obadiah H. Wilchcombe was the moderator. Presentations were given by former Magistrate Mrs. Cleopatra Christie of the Bahamas Crisis Centre; Bishop Delton Fernander, President of The Bahamas Christian Council, who spoke on the Biblical Perspective of Marriage; and Senator, the Hon. Ryan Pinder, Q.C., Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, who provided an overview of the Proposed Bill and what the new legislation hopes to accomplish.
Various perspectives were shared by a cross-section of the audience.
Social Services Minister Wilchcombe, said the Symposium was designed to “cause for progressive thought on an issue that has been long outstanding.” He said the consultations will allow the country to move from the various discussions undertaken over the many years, to a focused position that allows the country to take a progressive stance.
From: Bahamas Information Services
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