Dear Editor,
I write in relation to the March 8th letter in Stabroek News entitled `The Sexual Offences Act must be fully implemented’.
The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act was assented to by H.E. Mr. Donald Ramotar, President of the Republic of Guyana on February 27th 2013.
The Act states that there shall be an established inter-agency task force as the National Task Force for the Prevention of Sexual Violence which shall have the duty to develop and implement a National Plan for the Prevention of Sexual Violence. Section 87 (2) of the Act also states that the President shall appoint members of the Task Force which shall include the Ministers of Legal Affairs, Home Affairs, Human Services and Social Security, Amerindian Affairs, Education, Health, Local Government, Youth, Sport and Culture, Senior Public Officers with responsibility for law enforcement, health and human and social services and persons from non-governmental organizations.
Since the Act was passed in 2010, there was training for Magistrates on two occasions. It must be emphasized that one member of the Judiciary and one member of the Magistracy also benefitted from training on Sexual Offences in the United Kingdom.
Section 87 (3) of the Act states that the Task Force shall carry out the following activities which include:
– Develop and publish within a reasonable time of the coming into force of the Act, a National Plan for the Prevention of Sexual Offences, which shall include the necessary steps to eradicate sexual violence in Guyana;
– Develop initiatives for prevention of sexual violence;
– Coordinate the implementation of the National Plan;
– Commission and coordinate the collection, publication and sharing of data among government agencies;
Since the Sexual Offences Task Force was convened, three meetings were held.
Whilst mention was made in the letter of the number of reported cases of sexual abuse of children between January and March, 2012 by the Childcare & Protection Agency (CPA), it must be emphasized that there appears to be an upward trend in the reporting of these cases due to increased public awareness strategies implemented by the Ministry. The issue of sexual abuse committed on our women and children is everybody’s business and non-governmental organizations and civil society also have a duty and responsibility to share the information garnered to support national data collection.
The state party wishes to state that it implemented a combination of legislative, judicial, policy and administrative measures along with programmatical interventions to ensure a comprehensive and a more coherent approach to protecting our women and children from abuse, exploitation and violence. We remain committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure the National Plan of Action as stipulated in the Act is formulated.
Thus far, all the obligations which devolve upon Guyana under various treaties in respect of women and children are being satisfactorily observed and it remains the highest priority of this Government to ensure that we continue to discharge these obligations.
Yours faithfully,
Jennifer Webster
Minister of Human Services and
Social Security
