The Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) is urging all of society to do its utmost to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the nation’s children, especially in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the RCC stated that it has taken note of the report put out by the Child Care and Protection Agency for the first quarter of 2020, which recorded a “significant” number of child abuse reports. The Commission sees this as a “worrisome situation” further “compounded and exacerbated” by the existential threat of COVID -19 to both children and care givers.
The RCC also noted the efforts of various stakeholders in responding to this situation and recommended a more “concerted and collaborative” approach as the Commission believes that the considerable threat to life imposed by COVID -19 must be met with the continued resolve of all stakeholders to keep children safe. Such safety, it argues, must involve protection from the deadly virus as well as from any form of mistreatment and abuse while in their homes.
The RCC referred to a recent report, “Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children 2020”, produced by the World Health Organization in collaboration with UNICEF, UNESCO, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General on Violence against Children, and the End Violence Partnership. According to the RCC, the report states that violence still affects the lives of up to 1 billion children, with long-lasting and costly emotional, social and economic consequences. And in this report, the international agencies named, have reiterated their call to the sectoral stakeholders in each country, to renew their adherence to their mandate.
Together with these international agencies, the RCC called for the reaffirmation of a commitment to preserving the protection of the rights of Guyana’s children. These, it said, can be achieved by continuing to observe laws which protect children; establishing values and norms to promote child rights, creating safe environments for children, enabling parent and care giver support, providing social protection services, fostering economic stability, and promoting education and life skills capacity. It also posits that all of these actions are relevant to a societal approach to protecting children.
The release also drew attention to the two incidents involving the death of pregnant teenager Rehana Rahaman from Karawab village in the upper Pomeroon, and the alleged murder of Melissa Somah, another pregnant teenager from New Amsterdam in the Berbice River. “The circumstances leading to the deaths of Ms. Rahaman and Ms. Somah make us focus on the stark reality of children being mothers and their unfortunate deaths, and the continuous breakdown of appreciation for the best interests of a child, and his/her rights including the right to life and protection.” As far as the Commission is concerned, the best interest of the child must be observed by all stakeholders at the level of the family, community and nationally. “We must, at all times, seek to consider and act in a manner that accords with observing the rights of children,” it added.
The RCC expressed the hope that any violations of the law which may have resulted in the deaths of Rahaman and Somah will be dealt with condignly by the justice system, with the appropriate punishment being meted out.
The Commission also spoke to the partial reopening of schools by the Ministry of Education (MoE) for the now-completed NGSA and imminent CSEC evaluations and wished all students well in their examinations. It urged the MoE to ensure that no child is left behind due to the fact of missed classes or total absence of schooling, and to enhance preparations for start of school in September, should challenges with COVID-19 continue. The RCC was particularly concerned with all students, whether in urban, rural or hinterland areas, being afforded the capacity to access adequate tuition and to benefit from equitable attention being paid to the “myriad” needs of all. It emphasised that students in all locations, depending on their circumstances, are being affected and must all be catered for.
The RCC reiterated its commitment to enlivening the articles enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and assured that it will continue to carry out its mandate to oversee and encourage observance of all rights of children in Guyana.
