ONCE again, the PPP/C government has demonstrated its well known concern about child abuse and parental roles and responsibilities, with what can be described as a well crafted, public sensitisation programme through the Ministry of Human Services and its executing arm, the Child Protection Agency, carried out within the area of the Route 42 bus park.

The Ministry must be commended for this particular type of public exercise that targeted especially minibus drivers, many of whom have been placed before the courts for sexual offences. It is hoped that this particular category of adult male, many of them fathers, and perceived as one of the principal sinners, would begin to reflect on their individual conduct with regards this heinous crime.

But it was rather interesting to learn from the Director of the Child Protection Agency, that with improved systems now employed, more reports about child abuse were being received at the Ministry. Very good in terms of the report and response mechanism; but very worrying when she further reported that most of the abuses arose emanated from the home and were perpetrated by parents. One should have no reason to doubt such worrying reports that put the spotlight on parenting.

It is indeed sad that parents, who ought to be the natural protectors of their young, are the chief abusers in many, if not most, instances. This is a paradigm behaviour not confined to Guyana. It is universal. But whereas, in other states where abused children are placed in care – their parents are concomitantly placed before the courts based on the particular circumstance and where guilty, are heavily sanctioned.

Given the reportedly high levels of this particular travesty where parents are involved, and the increase in numbers of children being taken into care, it is time that errant parents be placed before the courts to answer for cruelties that inflict serious psychological damage on their children. That is the reason for the Stamp It Out campaign and the resultant legislative act.