The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security yesterday launched a Child Advocacy Centre in Springlands, Upper Corentyne and Whim Village, Corentyne with Minister Vindhya Persaud stating that such initiatives are important to create a space for young children where they can visit and access help.
Minister Persaud, in her remarks at the launch, also disclosed that similar initiatives will be rolled out across the country as her ministry works to decentralise services, “…so that wherever our children are they know that the services are accessible, and easily accessible to them.”
She noted that there were over 3,000 cases of child abuse last year and something needs to be done. “We need to ensure that wherever we are and whoever we are, we not only speak up and against child abuse but we develop culture of encouraging children [and] young people to report it.”
Further, she said, a culture of adults reporting abuse needs to be developed.
According to Persaud, with child advocacy centres mushrooming across the country, “maybe we will just make the kind of impact that we want to see in the world of children.”
The minister also spoke about the 914 hotline, and stressed that it is important that every child knows the number as well as their alphabet. “Teach your children about 914 so that they can call it, make that report and then the process involves them just telling their story once.”
She also called on the officers who will be based at the centres in the region to ensure that the procedure is followed. “Every report matters and the time in which you deal with the report is the most critical thing… We have to act on it right away,” she advised.
Persaud noted that while persons would contact her and she appreciates reaching out for those persons, she reminded that more is needed to be done on the ground. “Don’t dismiss anything, don’t dismiss any child. Don’t become so impervious to something that is an entrenched culture that you do not react.”
The launches were as a result of collective efforts and the minister expressed gratitude to the ministry’s partners who include ChildLink, the European Union, UNICEF, and the United Nations.
