Jersey should follow the UK in removing parental responsibility for children conceived through rape, according to a charity that supports survivors of sexual assault.
Under new measures proposed in parliament for England and Wales, parental responsibility will automatically be restricted where a child is born of rape.
The reforms will also see parental responsibility restricted when a parent is convicted of serious sex offences against any child, not just their own.
It will mean sex offenders will no longer be able to intervene in decisions about medical care, schooling, and overseas travel.
We urge the Government of Jersey to adopt similar measures that ensure no child in the Channel Islands is at risk of harm from a parent with a serious sexual offence conviction
Jersey Action Against Rape
Jersey Action Against Rape has called for local legislation to “reflect the same commitment to survivor safety, child welfare and accountability”.
The charity said: “We urge the Government of Jersey to adopt similar measures that ensure no child in the Channel Islands is at risk of harm from a parent with a serious sexual offence conviction, and that survivors are shielded from further trauma via parental litigation.”
JAAR praised the recent UK law change as a “positive step forward” which “shows that the law can evolve to better protect the vulnerable and ensure children’s interests are truly prioritised”.
The charity said the move prioritises the safety and rights of survivors and children by preventing forced contact with abusers, easing the legal burden on protective parents, and shifting the law to value protection over perpetrators’ parental rights.
JAAR said it “stands ready to support any consultations, advocacy or local reform efforts to bring this level of protection to Jersey”.