The Opposition Leader is calling for discussions to address what she believes are causes behind sexual crimes.

In a statement, she points to recent statistics that over 2,000 cases of sexual abuse of girls and 500 cases of sexual abuse of boys were reported to the Children’s Authority between 2020 and 2021.

Mrs Persad-Bissessar believes there is an over-sexualization of children, with inappropriate content directed youngsters through video games, TV shows, movies, advertisements, and social media.

She says individuals are exposing children to inappropriate conversations, innuendo, music, dancing, and behaviours.

The Opposition Leader also pointed to pornography saying it is now more readily available online, and deems pornography addiction a “a silent epidemic for adults and children”.

She believes sexual crimes cannot be reduced unless there is public acknowledgement the driving factors behind them.

The Opposition wants the Government, civil society, TATT, the Media Association, and any willing stakeholder to be involved in the discussions.