Jamaica's Children's Advocate Diahann Gordon-Harrison is backing a proposal to raise the age of consent from 16 to 18, saying the move could strengthen protections for minors amid ongoing concerns about teenage pregnancy and exploitative relationships.

"Exploitative relationships with men who are significantly older" remain a key driver behind some of those pregnancies, according to Gordon-Harrison.

The position comes after comments from Opposition Spokesman on Education Damion Crawford, who urged Parliament this week to consider the change, pointing to an estimated 6,000 pregnancies among schoolgirls each year - many of which disrupt their education.