‘Speak out! Breaking the silence on children sexually abused’
The Child Care Protection Agency is located at the corner of Charles and Broad Streets, Charlestown, Georgetown
The Child Care Protection Agency is located at the corner of Charles and Broad Streets, Charlestown, Georgetown

SO this is it, Child Protection Week, (September 24th – 30th) seven days where the Child Protection Agency’s (CPA) work will focus on building adult awareness on child abuse and other related issues. A week of activities are planned across the various regions including a rally in Anna Regina on Wednesday 27th: the theme of which is ‘Speak out! Breaking the silence on children sexually abused.’

But why do we have Child Protection Week and does anyone actually benefit? The answer to those two questions is a great big resounding YES!!!

We (the CPA) commemorate Child Protection week because it is imperative that we change the negative attitude and perception that some people have about children. The more adults we can reach and educate, the more children we will help. To this end the week’s activities include outreaches to Religious Leaders and in schools and health centres: a booth day in Stabroek Market and at Diamond Hospital (today 25th) and awareness sessions and a training seminar to be held at the police training complex.

Change is something that could happen overnight or it can take place over a period of time, like a decade or maybe even a generation. But if there is no advocate for change on behalf of our children, those who are abused, neglected and abandoned will continue to suffer and in turn become dysfunctional, mixed up adults or misfits of society. This week’s focus on child protection and all the previous ‘child protection weeks’ since they commenced in Guyana in 2004 therefore, is essential for targeting the public and disseminating information to as many people as possible. By educating adults we aim to protect children where ever they are in Guyana.

Those who benefit from Child Protection week cannot be counted and to conduct a survey would not produce as accurate an account because people use information and the knowledge they attain in their own way and in their own time. Our job at the CPA is to get the information out there in the first place. We know that we are reaching people and doing the job we are mandated to do when members of the public asks questions and show a genuine interest in our services: and especially when they seek to use our services in a timely manner in the correct way.

There will always be members of the public who pay no interest in learning about child protection or who feign ignorance to child abuse and the affects it has on children. There may even be those who know of children that are being abuse consistently and can help to protect those children by just lifting the phone and making a call to our hotline, but they do not care enough to do so, or they do not wish to get involved because it is not affecting them directly. These are the people who need educating the most. These are the people who need to understand that the damage metered out to a child during childhood can mean damaging that person for life.

Too many adults have the attitude that children are ’just’ children ‘let them try deh’ therefore anything is permissible where they are concerned, no! Adults have to guide and protect them, adults have to talk to them, nurture them, pay them attention and give them love and encouragement: and adults MUST speak out on their behalf when they are being abused and maltreated.

Child protection week began in 2004 as an initiative of the now Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ms. Ann Green. It is commemorated in different countries around the World at different times of the year. It is our endeavor during this Child Protection Week to educate adults in each region of Guyana and in so doing, protect as many of our nation’s children as possible.
We welcome your support.

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