Message from UNICEF
UNICEF is joining the rest of the world in observance of “The World Day for Prevention of Abuse and Violence against Children. Child abuse is a global problem and Guyana has not been spared. Newspapers continue to report the rising numbers of child abuse cases, some of them gruesome.  In a recent press release the Honorable Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand indicated that since the Child Protection Agency was established, 3,175 of child abuse cases were reported, of this number, 602 have been sexual abuse cases. These cases were reported between September 2009 and September 2010 and the numbers are alarming and require joint efforts from all sectors of the Guyanese society to address child abuse effectively. Increased attention and efficient protection skills and prevention measures are necessary at family, local and national levels. In accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child which has also been adopted by Guyana, the following articles highlight the role of the State to protect its most vulnerable citizens, our children:

Article 19 states that:
State Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.
Article 34 states that:
States Parties undertake to protect the child from all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. For these purposes, States Parties shall in particular take all appropriate national, bilateral and multilateral measures to prevent:
(a) the inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity;
(b) the exploitative use of children in prostitution or other unlawful sexual practices;
(c) the exploitative use of children in pornographic performances and materials.

These articles represent UNICEF’s guiding principles and forms a fundamental thrust in the prevention and response to child sexual abuse cases. As such, UNICEF has been providing continuous support to the Government of Guyana in ensuring all service providers; including child protection and probation officers, law enforcement officers and members of the judiciary have the requisite knowledge to enforce the statues of the new Sexual Offences Act. Further our efforts have seen children being empowered and given a voice, and where necessary to have free legal representative and counselling whether they are victims or even as perpetrators. More recently, together with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security we have begun the roll out of the first phase of a five year education campaign to address the issues of violence against children and women. This Campaign is designed to sensitize policy makers, service providers, children and the community at large on the magnitude of child abuse and their responsibilities in protecting children. It is in this light that UNICEF is appealing today to all Guyanese to help in the fight to stop the abuse of our children. Any child abused is one child too many. Violence against children is preventable and we will not stop until this scourge is totally eliminated. That’s our pledge.
Let us all, Government; Civil Society, Faith Based Organizations, Communities, Schools, Parents and Neighbours join hands to make this happen.

In order for ‘evil’ to prevail, all that need happen is for ‘good’ people to do nothing – Edmund Burke.