Far-reaching proposals contained in a report drafted by the parliamentary committee, which examined the Offences Against the Person Act and the Incest Punishment Act, will be tabled in the Senate tomorrow.

The committee wrapped up its final meeting in Gordon House yesterday, after putting the finishing touches on recommendations to amend laws relating to rape, incest and other sex crimes.

Changes proposed by the committee over its seven-month-long sitting will afford more protection to vulnerable persons, including the mentally challenged, women and children.

Chairman of the committee, Senator A.J. Nicholson, who is also the Attorney-General and Justice Minister, said the report should be debated in less than two weeks.

Preparing new legislation

He said the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel had the task of preparing new legislation, which would be reviewed by Cabinet and introduced in the House for debate before the end of the calendar year.

Highlighting some key areas covered in the report, Senator Nicholson mentioned the definition of rape and sexual intercourse, marital rape, abolition of the common law presumption that a boy under 14 years was incapable of committing rape; incest and related matters.

Senator Nicholson argued that the companion pieces of legislation impacted mostly on young women.

He explained that certain activities that were reported to have taken place in schools, were alarming.