After 12 is Not Lunch

The mother kisses her 13-year-old daughter goodbye, telling her to enjoy her afternoon with an older man.

The expression “after 12 is lunch” has been used in Tobago for many years, primarily by men, to indicate that they are willing to have sex with a girl once she passes the age of 12. In fact, the expression assumes that a 12-year-old girl is sexually mature and available, and this is especially so if the girl’s physical development is more noticeable.

To fight against this gender-based violence against young girls and women, the High Commission of Canada to Trinidad and Tobago, through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, supported 10 educational YouTube videos as part of the “After 12 is Not Lunch” project.

This video series explores how girls are sometimes seen as sexual objects following puberty and consequently, how this often motivates a continued cycle of abuse and sexual violence. The series looks at various aspects of gender-based violence in Tobago and offers some insight into how it can be addressed.