Good evening Editor of Antigua Newsroom,
(Requesting that you share this on your platform to your fellow readers, thanks in advance).
On September 1, 2026, I shared on our main media house ABS Radio/TV on the morning show “Antigua Barbuda Today”, as a survivor of sexual assualt/sexual abuse which begun from the age of five years old, the impact this has on us who went through it and on those around us. The three main key solutions I presented during that morning interview to my home country Antigua and Barbuda were the following:
1. Change our law on sexual consent
2. Add to our Medical Benefits Scheme the opportunity for anyone who receives trauma from various methods (as a child, teen, or adult) to be automatically placed in therapy/counseling sessions, requiring a minimum fee of $20 (the amount quoted is in XCD; $1.00 USD is $2.70 XCD for conversion). The hospital does not have an assigned psychiatrist or a trauma therapist, but they can immediately connect people to counsellors, religious ministers (such as Pastors, Priests, and Apostles).
3-Insurance to cover grief and counselling as part of the insurance package for employees.
I am tremendously pleased to hear that the government and opposition leader in parliament on Monday 28th September, 2026, raised the issue regarding my point number one: “Change our law on sexual consent”. To further push this strong message from society’s perspective, I have created a petition for everyone to sign digitally (links provided) to let the government know we need this done ASAP. Per the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which the General Assembly adopted on 20 November, 1989, ratified by 195 countries, less than a year, became law in September 1990 in accordance with Article 49, the Convention on the Rights of the Child is ratified by every member state, except the USA… Antigua and Barbuda signed on 12th March 1991, Ratification on the 5th October 1993 “…a child is from 18 and under”. The Sexual Offence Act of Anitgua and Barbuda needs a full total amending, NO 16 year can give consent to sex, it contradicts what we agreed to.
Please sign this petition to let our government know that we, as a society totally want our present and future children to be protected, and adults (male and female) who have intercourse or other sexual encounters with a child (18 and under) to face real, stiff penalties. Survivors like us, who are boldly sharing our stories, firmly believe through our own experiences that children must be protected. As a teen, you are immature. I believe that many of the sexual abuse/sexual assualts of all forms will become less to zero when this law is changed.
Also, I encourage you, reader, to purchase my book “Stolen Innocence. A tale of Survival and Triumph”, it will help you and others and to anyone who went through the same thing like me raped, sexually abused etc We all need healing and to be healed the right way. The book is readable for teens and older readers.
We are not victims, we are survivors, more than conquerors!
To sign the Petition:
https://c.org/J6FBWZzVT8
To purchase the book:
https://tinyurl.com/StolenInnocenceBook
My handles:
https://linktr.ee/francoisegbowen
To watch the interview in full on YouTube:
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Miss Françoise Bowen-
Book Author-“Stolen Innocence. A tale of Survival and Triumph”
https://tinyurl.com/StolenInnocenceBook
(download the book to your Kindle via your web browser)
Saving souls as much as we can, victims are more than a conqueror, no longer victims. “Service over status, character over comfort…if you want to be close to God, serve people…” John C Maxwell
https://linktr.ee/francoisegbowen
Author/Speaker/Admin Assistant/Entrepreneur/Focus Cause
>HIV/AIDS Toastmaster
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Sexual Abuse Survivor Launches Petition Calling for Antigua and Barbuda’s Age of Consent to Be Raised From 16 to 18.