"Call anal rape what it is!"
That was the position taken by attorney-at-law Tenesha Myrie, during Sunday's edition of RJR's weekly news review show - That's a Rap.
Reflecting on the fact that the victim of forceful penetration of the anus (of a man, woman, boy or girl) by the penis currently has to rely on the provisions against buggery, at Section 76 of the Offences Against the Person Act (which is more than 100 years old), which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, Miss Myrie argued that this is not consistent with the penalty for vaginal rape, for which the offender, if convicted, faces 15 years-to-life in prison.
"That disparity is really suggesting to us that vaginal rape is more heinous than anal rape," she said. But that distinction, according to her, should not stand, in law.
Beyond the question of penalties, the attorney said it was important to recognize the harm done to male victims of such violations.
"Traditionally, in sexual violence legislation, we leave the men and boys out because the protection is normally for women and girls," she complained.
The Sexual Offences Act, which covers a range of sex crimes, is currently being reviewed by a Joint Select Committee of Parliament.
The other panelists who participated in the discussion were Judith Wedderburn, NGO representative, and economist Joseph Cox, along with Earl Moxam, the host of That's a Rap.
Please click on the audio icon above for the full discussion. You may also read Miss Myrie's guest column in last Wednesday's edition of the Daily Gleaner, which triggered Sunday's discussion.