The Ministry of Human Service and Social Security in collaboration with UNICEF yesterday launched the Tell Scheme, through which it is hoped, children who are victims of sexual abuse will be encouraged to speak out.
Giving an overview of the scheme at the Regency Suites yesterday, Tell Scheme Expert Alex Graham said it was specifically designed to encourage disclosure about child abuse. He said innocent children who are preyed upon are made to feel guilty by their offenders, as though they are the ones who are wrong. The children’s rights are being jeopardized and their integrity is being trampled on in the name of secrecy, he said.
Emphasising that there is a distinction between secrecy and privacy, he said, “secrecy is designed to hide something negative. It’s the primary weapon used by the sex offenders to cover their activities.” Children who are sexually abused are usually threatened, and manipulated into fear and guilt.
The TELL Scheme expects to expose paedophiles and foster an environment where children are protected.
Graham related a story about a little girl on the East Coast Demerara, who drew a picture depicting a bunk bed on which two girls slept while a man stood over one of the girls.
She later admitted that she was being abused by her uncle, and that he was the man in her drawing, Graham said, adding, “exposure to the Tell Scheme rescued that child and her sister’s lives.” Both girls happened to be less than ten years old.
The Tell Scheme would be implemented in primary schools at the grade three and grade six levels, whereby teachers will be given posters to educate children on where they should and shouldn’t be touched. The success of the programme lies in the hands of these teachers, Graham said, noting that the primary level is the ideal the place for disclosure. Children will be informed about abuse and comforted by the truth that they are the victims and not the perpetrators.
In this guiltless environment children will feel confident to speak. Graham further mentioned that there will be a Tell Box set up in classrooms to encourage children to write their stories or draw them. These boxes would be checked on a regular basis and assistance will be rendered.
“We’re using children art to inform children about the integrity of their body,” Graham stated. The conceptualization of the effects of sexual child abuse goes beyond psychological trauma to physical disorders such as sleeping issues and health risks and children suffer into adulthood.
“It’s quite unfortunate that the abuse is committed by people who the children trust,” First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar said, in her remarks. “Let’s protect our children’s innocence not only because it is the right thing to do but because will help them develop into healthy adults,” she added. She also mentioned that society needs to be sensitized about the issue.
Charge d’Affaires US Embassy, Thomas Pierce, reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to support government’s efforts to combat sexual child abuse and to free everyone—especially women and children from violence. He said he “congratulates the government and UNICEF for promoting this campaign.”
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster, stated that the ministry has “zero tolerance for child abuse,” noting that it is essential that children are aware of when they are abused. She pleaded with everyone to report cases of abuse because “child abuse is everyone’s business. The obligation is for all to report.”
Tell Scheme designed to prevent and reduce the incidence of sexual child abuse in the society. It is a campaign funded by the British High Commission and UNICEF.
Young singer of GT&T jingle fame Nia Allen sang the “Tell” song, while the programme was chaired by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security Lorene Baird. Also present at the launch were Deputy Representative UNICEF Guyana and Suriname and Programme Manager of ChildLink who gave remarks.
