The Office of the Children's Advocate is urging legislators to give support to a proposal for murderers of pregnant women to be prosecuted also for the death of the unborn child.

Children’s Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison says the country has had some very painful incidents in the recent past where pregnant women have been murdered.

In 2012, the country was rocked by the killing of at least five pregnant women in September and October.

At present, the Offences against the Person Act does not include a provision for holding persons culpable for the death of the foetus as a result of the killing of the mother.

According to Gordon-Harrison the law must be updated to respond to such heinous acts.

The OCA head says if this offence is created and introduced in the law a person convicted under these circumstances should face greater penalties.

The Children’s Advocate was making a presentation this week during a meeting of a joint select committee of Parliament reviewing the Sexual Offences Act, the Offences against the Person Act and related pieces of legislation.

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