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CCB concerned Bajans not speaking up about child abuse
The country’s child protection agency is concerned about the under-reporting of child abuse and the high number of physical and sexual abuse cases involving minors.
The Child Care Board (CCB) is hoping to break the silence on the scourge as the island observes its first ever Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in April, under the theme Speak up, Speak Out, Report Child Abuse.
According to Director of the CCB Roseann Richards, reported cases of child abuse last year stood at 489, including 114 for physical abuse and 115 for sexual abuse – a slight increase over 2020 when there were 476 cases of reported child abuse, of which 111 were physical abuse and 106 were sexual abuse.
In 2019, there were 529 cases reported.
Richards said the April 1-30 month of activities is designed to draw attention to the issues and encourage individuals and organisations to play their part to make Barbados a safer place for children and families.
“April is a time not just to observe, but to support the critical role that communities play in reporting child abuse.
Everyone’s participation is crucial,” she said, noting that providing parents with positive support, developing social and emotional competence of children, and giving children a voice are among the steps that can be taken to reduce the risk and prevalence of child abuse and neglect.
Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month is scheduled to kick off on Monday, April 4, with a launch hosted by Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Warrens. (SD/BGIS)
Here is what we said about a year ago 5/14/21
From our very inception, the Mahogany Coconut Group, has placed considerable emphasis on the abuse of our women, children, and the elderly in our region. As some countries celebrate Child Month, we must once more state that child abuse and other crimes against children are rampant in many of our societies.In keeping with our philosophy of One Caribbean Nation state, we will not identify any country as the main culprit. Suffice it to say that a crime committed against one child in our region, is a crime against all our children.
Many of the laws pertaining to the abuse and exploitation of children are bordering on the archaic, even when they are “modernized”. Our research of rape cases and other atrocities against minors, indicate that the legal system allows several years to elapse before trials of this nature are heard. We are also alarmed that consensual sex is the defense of choice in these matters.
Legally, there really cannot be any consensual sex between an adult and a minor. Such acts are deemed statutory rape and we should not allow, skillful attorneys, to use consensual sex as a defense in such cases.
We are also concerned that in many of our jurisdictions, those accused of perpetuating such sordid acts against our children, can remain in the same homes, where the acts are said to have been committed. This is a travesty of monumental proportions.
While we stand steadfast that every accused person is considered innocent until proven guilty, we remain convinced that some escape serious judgement because too many cultural, socio-economic factors and politics, encroach upon the justice system. In other words, regional societies are still lagging in truly protecting our children from all kinds of abuse and exploitation.
It is a major blot on regional development.
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