JUNIOR Communities Minister Dawn Hastings-Williams has commented that “child abuse is real”, and has called on all to play a role in eliminating the scourge.Making this appeal to residents of several Upper Mazaruni communities in Region Seven during a recent outreach to the region, the minister noted that, based on reports, incidents of child abuse are on the increase in every administrative region of Guyana, and the hinterland regions are showing signs of more vulnerability in this regard.

“All (parents, community leaders, businesses and the police) must become involved” to stop this problem, the minister said, as she called on community leaders, parents and residents to put prominence on this issue by making it a topic of discussion at every forum.

And aside from this, she urged residents to not be silent, but to report all suspected cases of child abuse.

During the three-day visit, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported, Minister Hastings-Williams and her team held engagements with children, parents, community leaders and councillors  of Kamarang, Jawalla, Kako and Kwebanna. Issues discussed concerned child rights, preventing child abuse, and better parenting.

Blossom Incorporated representative Tiffany Griffith, who also addressed the residents, reminded them that children are all special, and “are going to be the leaders of tomorrow’s generation”.

Griffith explained that parents, communities and the Government each have a responsibility to discharge in relation to ensuring that children become their best selves for their future roles.

Griffith pointed out that the responsibility also includes ensuring that children are “well taken care of”, including from all forms of abuse. “Abuse is any form of punishment or wrongdoing that has been done to a child,” Griffith explained, and urged the children at the meetings to report those instances to “somebody whom you think you can tell, and who would not cause you more harm”.

The outreach sought to raise awareness about child abuse and the role the community can play in intervention and for its prevention.

The Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) recently reported that more than 2,238 cases of child abuse have been reported. According to CCPA Director Ann Greene, the most reported cases of abuse are neglect, followed by sexual abuse.

Blossom Incorporated is a registered non-governmental organisation within Guyana; it works separately and in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection to build and strengthen the relationship between children and families, and to safeguard the physical and mental well-being of all children.

The meetings were part of activities in observance of Child Protection Week (September 18 to 24). During the meetings, Minister Hastings-Williams also spoke briefly on the issue of Indigenous Heritage and Education Month, both of which are also being observed in September.

In addressing these two celebrations, the minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to the development of Indigenous people, including a pledge to work to bring access to, and improve the quality of, education offered in the hinterland, so that it is on par with what is offered on the coastland.

“The Government is committed in ensuring that every child has access to quality education, despite their geographical location,” the minister assured.

The minister also resolved to bring to Cabinet’s attention a number of issues and concerns that were raised during the engagements, including improving the living quarters of Government workers in the hinterland.