A member of the Royal Canadian Navy who posted support online for “minor-attracted persons,” or pedophiles, received a fine and a reprimand that is logged on her employment records.
The Military Police concluded its investigation into Master Sailor Jessica Silva during the week of Nov. 20, 2023, and a summary hearing was held on Nov. 30, 2023, Navy spokesperson Sabrina Nash told the Epoch Times in an email.
Ms. Nash did not mention other disciplinary measures such as demotion.
MS Silva was charged under item 102.03 (d) of the King’s Regulations and Orders (KR&O), which relates to a service infraction for being unfit while on duty to “effectively perform their duties or carry out responsibilities.”
Details of the charge provided by Ms. Nash indicate that MS Silva had written the comments on her Instagram account between June 4 and 6, 2023, at or near Halifax, and while being identifiable as a member of the CAF.
The Navy noted MS Silva made the following comment: “People can’t choose who they are attracted to and if the adult approaches the child and the child says yes then they are both consenting.”
The Navy says this comment was in contravention of KR&O 19.14(2) related to “improper comments,” which states that no CAF members shall do or say anything that [...] if seen or heard by any member of the public, might reflect discredit on the Canadian Forces or on any of its members.”
The Epoch Times had previously reported on the comments made by MS Silva during “Pride Month” in defence of pedophiles. She had written on Instagram that “Pride is for everyone and every sexuality is valid and every experience is valid,” and “MAP [Minor Attracted Person] rights are human rights, and the MAP is a legitimate part of the queer community and culture.”
Ms. Nash said while those comments did not form “part of the particulars of the charge,” it was “accepted as evidence during the Summary Hearing and was a factor considered during the sanctioning phase.”
The sailor had also cited an independent report by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), called the “8 March Principles for a Human Rights-Based Approach to Criminal Law Proscribing Conduct Associated with Sex, Reproduction, Drug Use, HIV, Homelessness and Poverty,” to back up her statement.
The document contains a section that says, “Sexual conduct involving persons below the domestically prescribed minimum age of consent to sex may be consensual in fact, if not in law. In this context, the enforcement of criminal law should reflect the rights and capacity of persons under 18 years of age to make decisions about engaging in consensual sexual conduct and their right to be heard in matters concerning them.”
MS Silva also recommended the book “A Long, Dark Shadow“ by Allyn Walker, which purports to challenge ”widespread assumptions that persons who are preferentially attracted to minors—often referred to as ‘pedophiles’—are necessarily also predators and sex offenders.”
The sailor has since deleted the Instagram profile where the comments were posted. The Epoch Times has tried to reach MS Silva unsuccessfully.
