The cases of child abuse reported to the Child Protection Agency for 2018 numbered a stunning 4,917, according to a statement emanating from agency Director, Ms Ann Greene. This high number when broken down into subcategories of abuse showed that, “2,431 were cases of child neglect; 1,115 were reports of physical abuse; 980 were sexual abuse cases; 308 were verbal/emotional abuse cases; 50 were cases where children witnessed abuse; and 33 were cases of abandonment.”
In the 2012 census, the population of children aged 0-14 was 114,132, and using this figure, dated though it might be, places the percentage of children abused in 2018 within that age range at just under 5%. When we take into consideration that reportage of child abuse worldwide is considered very low, we can then infer that the situation is always much worse than the statistics can show. The website childhelp.org which publishes child abuse statistics from the USA mentions that, “Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect,” and lists physical and sexual abuse as the chief forms of abuse that children face.
It is clear that the Child Protection Agency (CPA) has its work cut out for it here in Guyana as it attempts to first increase detection of all forms of child abuse, and then punish and rehabilitate abusers on a case by case basis, while ensuring the physical and mental well-being of the child victim. If the alarming number of reports are only a part of the story, then the harm and suffering endured by children is indeed a “hidden epidemic” that needs to be arrested and brought into the light of day. Director Greene has urged the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to be proactive and execute charges to perpetrators within 72 hours, and this begs the question as to whether slothfulness of the GPF negatively impacts the Agency’s ability to assert itself against offenders and ensure punitive measures are taken. Without the ability to investigate, prosecute and punish, the Agency can become no more than a toothless poodle.
The Agency’s focus on rehabilitation for perpetrators of less serious offences against children, particularly when the offenders are the parents themselves, is a welcome approach and shows that the preservation and improvement of family life is a key aspect of the Agency’s work. However, the synergy between the CPA and the GPF is a very important aspect of the fight against child abuse and this challenge has been around for too long. The function of the CPA is broader within the family unit to educate and rehabilitate, but the police function should involve more strong measures including arrests. If the police and the Agency have a differing perspective on how a matter should be treated, there must be a process for quickly escalating the matter to superiors and arbiters so that a decision can be urgently taken in the interest of the child. Wrongful arrests are certainly going to be counter-productive, but the CPA’s unique perspective on such matters should not be easily disregarded or discarded by the GPF’s investigating officers. As Ms Greene has opined “those matters cannot be dealt with at the station level, there must be thorough investigation for charges to be made, because a crime has been committed.”
Recently, we have witnessed a surge in court cases involving sexual violence against minors. As distasteful as these cases are it could represent an improvement in the detection and reporting, investigating and prosecuting capabilities by the GPF leading to increased convictions in the courts. We have noted previously too that the court has shown the willingness to mete out harsher sentences to those convicted of child sexual abuse crimes and hopefully this will lead to a sharp reduction of child rape and sexual violence against children.
While sexual abuse of children is particularly vile and requires swift and condign action, physical abuse of children is also reprehensible for its unwelcome physical and mental impact on children. In Guyana, it is not rare to see children being harshly beaten by parents in the public, and the usual reaction of bystanders is to avoid getting involved. To build an environment where reporting is seen as a positive act done in the best interest of the child will always be a challenge that the CPA will have to take on. If the public sees the CPA in a positive light, they will likely more readily come forward to report instances of abuse or suspected abuse. As with domestic violence cases overall, the role and involvement of the police is critical to the success of the social work agencies – such as the CPA in this instance.
As reportage of known and suspected child abuse cases continue to rise, and as child sexual offenders continue their vile behaviour, the potential for the CPA, and even the GPF, to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of cases before them is a distinct possibility. As has been pointed out over any number of years, the synergy between the GPF and social work agencies of the state must be developed and honed to a fine point. Individual officers of the Agency or the police must be guided by clearly defined rules of procedure and regulations and cannot be relied on to inject their own biases and unstudied opinions into matters involving the safety and protection of young children. The CPA must also continue to have a presence in vulnerable communities and be proactive in educating and guiding parents as to their responsibilities for the safety of their children.