Women denounce 12 years as age of consent for contraceptives petition.

By Tendai Chisiri
De-parenting, medical issues and cultural and religious values were cited as reasons why it is inappropriate for 12 year olds to consent in accessing reproductive health care services at a public hearing in Harare Thursday.
Advocacy Care Team with some civic society organisations petitioned the Parliament of Zimbabwe to have the age of consent in accessing contraceptives by young children be 12 years old.The Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care and the Thematic Committee on HIV AIDS then held public hearings at different places nationwide for the 9th to 12th November .The people’s views were recorded so that a consensus could be reached on if a law  could  be passed or not to allow12 year olds  to access contraceptives.
Organisations and individuals attended the hearings at City Sports Center in Harare with women sympathising with the no to petition.
They pointed out that if young people were to take the contraceptives at such a young age, they may be vulnerable to diseases like cervical cancer . Also  children to receive contraceptives meant that parental rights and responsibilities would no longer be paramount as young children would be engaging in sex.
The no to 12 years as age of consent  to access sexual reproductive health care services was articulated with regards to the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
Linda Tsungirai Masarira representing a pressure group for Women in Politics said no to 12 years as an age of consent to receive contraceptives.
“Section 81.1(e) states that children should be protected from economic and sexual exploitation, from child labour and from maltreatment, neglect or any form of abuse”, she said.
She added that  the Government has to provide ways of protecting children from dangerous drugs and contraceptives increase the vulnerability of cervical cancer.
“We cannot afford o expose our children to cervical cancer and the effects of contraceptives because we want to get donor funding”, she added.
Tinashe Mtetwa a young girl with a youth organization said no to contraceptives for 12 year olds.
“We are saying no to petition. Even if 22% are falling pregnant and 70 000 of the children are getting engaged in illegal abortions, we say no to condoms. The Government should address the root cause of these problems instead of giving children condoms”, she said.
“Give young children what they are lacking first. Find other alternative activities to do like building playgrounds for children to be engaged in sport or other talents”,she added.
However, some said yes to the petition as they ascertained that young people were being vulnerable to sex due to lack of parental care.
“Parents of today no longer have time for their children because of work.We are saying yes to the petition because instead if a child going to buy contraceptives to a backdoor facility, they should go to a clinic”, said a young girl.
Religious and cultural norms were also ruled out by some as a reason for disagreeing with the petition as they said most of the values in some churches and culture were not health.

The public hearings were attended by Senators and Members of Parliament in the Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care and the Thematic Committee on HIV and AIDS.