With 391 cases of physical abuse and 430 cases of sexual abuse against children reported up to the end of June this year, the time is more than ripe for adults to step up to the plate to put an end to these scourges.
Pleas to this end were made by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster; Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Rev Patrick Finley and Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CCPA) Ann Green at a rally on Wednesday in observance of Child Protection Week.
The rally, hosted by the CCPA in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security in the parking lot of the National Stadium, Providence, appealed to the adult population of Guyana to join forces to stop the abuse of children.
In an effort to demonstrate the severity of the situation, the minister revealed that there has been a definite increase in the reported cases of physical and sexual child abuse. She stated that last year there were 838 reported and investigated cases of physical child abuse, while 391 cases have already been reported this year for the period ending in June. In addition, as it relates to sexual abuse, 430 cases have already been reported and investigated this year for the period ending June, while the entire last year only saw a total of 715 cases.
The minister urged anyone who has knowledge of a case where child abuse is taking place to report it, stating that this responsibility is not for the faint of heart.
She pointed out that reporting such cases has resulted in persons being ridiculed, ostracized and criticized. She also stated that there have been numerous cases where persons refused to report cases because they did not want to be the cause of a family break up. It is a fact that “many cases of abuse, in particular those of a sexual nature would have been perpetrated by a close family member or friend,” as such, in order to protect family image many cases of abuse are simply “swept under the carpet”. This is even truer in cases where boys would have been sexually molested as they are usually ashamed to admit that they would have been abused in that way. She stated that there have been cases where children were even abandoned by their families for reporting that they would have suffered physical and especially sexual abuse at the hands of a relative. The minister warned that this can be detrimental to the child for life. The minister related that many Guyanese are unaware that in many cases what we think to be physical discipline is actually physical abuse. “In any case which a child is beaten out of anger, or where that child is beaten to instill fear or establish control”, that is not physical discipline, but physical abuse, she said. It is only when “sharing licks” is done out of love in an effort to correct behaviour and instill discipline that it can be called physical discipline.
She went on to say that among the most significant implications is a hatred for one’s self. This can lead to outcomes that range from self mutilation to suicide. Victims of child abuse can also grow up to experience sexual issues, they constantly blame themselves for the abuse, and they have a tendency to keep secrets.
Finley noted that “abuse affects every facet of a person’s life both at the time of the abuse as well as years after.” He stated that though physical and sexual abuse is severe, emotional abuse is usually underestimated, and in many cases even ignored altogether. “Name calling, derogatory remarks and insults are used against children in almost every area of their lives,” he said, and they all can take a serious psychological toll on the children. As a matter of fact it was stated that in many cases this is not even classified as abuse, because it is perceived by many as normal, as such it ignored and as a result children suffer all sorts of negative spin offs. He urged all individuals that had a stake in the matter, especially adults, to do more to protect children stating that “the level of protection that we will attain for our children will be reflected by the effort we put into it.”
In an effort to inspire cooperation, the CCPA director had the adults stand and make an oath binding them to report any instances of child abuse they were aware of. Furthermore, she asked all to take out their phones and store the CCPA hotline number.
“We must realize when a child is at risk,” she said, stating that even if all that exists is suspicion of abuse that is all that is needed for an investigation to be triggered.
The director reassured those present that the primary interest of the agency was to ensure that the child stays with his/her original family, and that it is only as a last resort that any child is ever removed. Addressing complaints directed toward the agency relating to its slow responses to reports, the director admitted that resource constraints, both human and otherwise, made it impossible for them to respond to reports s quickly as they would like to, but maintained that until their capacity is increased the agency will do its best to respond to every report as soon as is possible.
Even teachers were challenged to play a role in this endeavour. “Teachers have a unique responsibility to guide children to achieve their full potential. What greater gift in life is there than inspiring a child’s future?” asked Finley. Urging teachers to refrain from name calling and the like in schools and chiding those who persist with this behavior, he admonished, “neglect, violence and pain should form no part of a child’s life, as such let us take action now against child abuse.”
Those present also enjoyed performances by Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo and Jessica Xavier. There was also the airing of a video discussing child abuse in Guyanese society.
Implemented in 2009, the CCPA is an institution committed to providing psychosocial support to thousands of children and their families, providing for families to safely care for their children, and the elimination of child abuse in all its forms.
