Author: Beyond Social Services, Babes Committee
Babes is a crisis intervention program that aims to help pregnant teenagers by providing support emotionally and physically. In 2009, this paper discussed the impact that section 22 of the Criminal Procedure Code has on Babes attempt to support pregnant teenagers. Section 22 makes it a legal duty to inform the police of offences of statutory rape and sexual penetration of minors under 16. Our concern is that this legal duty may have a detrimental impact on the situation or make the teenager hesitant to reach out for help.