September 18-24, Guyana observed Child Protection Week under the : “Breaking the Silence on Child Sexual Abuse.”  The Ministry of Social Protection hosted the event that saw various activities throughout the country.Child Protection as a matter of rights, laws, policies and programmes is an everyday event, starting in the home and extending to the wider society. Our children need protection from violence, exploitation and abuse. This protection is the collective responsibility of society, one that ought not to be ever let up on and should see continuous work through institutional strengthening and deepening.

A recent survey conducted by the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Guyana found that 18 percent of our children between the ages of five and 17 are engaged in child labour. This figure in a small such
as ours is relatively high and stamping it out requires concerted efforts on the part of Government in tandem with society. The denial of the child’s right to a normal childhood, whether it may occur out of ignorance, power play, or socio-economic circumstances, must not be condoned.

In addition to continued and intensified public education on what constitutes child labour, socio-economic depravities have to be addressed, and the full brunt of the law must be brought to bear, including making the penalty prohibitive enough to serve as deterrence.

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence during the week’s event spoke extensively about the need to be intolerant to child sexual abuse.  This strong message has to be reverberated throughout the society. Additionally, this institutional strengthening such as expanding the Child Protection Agency and equipping it with proficient staff should be treated as priority.

Ours is a society born out of historical experience that to spare the rod is to spoil the child. Consequently, children have been whipped if they engaged in what the parent or responsible adult considers bad behaviour. This in many instances is born out of wanting the best for the child. This form of discipline is also incorporated in the school system, known as Corporal Punishment. Today such is considered violent and abusive. As national conversations on this issue flare up ever so often, including from teachers, as to whether this form of discipline is appropriate or not, the fact is once it remains on the statute books it is legal.

It may be opportune therefore for teachers, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Protection and other stakeholders to examine corporal punishment in our laws. Discipline is important to a child’s growth and development as it is to every individual. However, it becomes necessary to revisit appropriate forms of discipline that will not constitute abuse.

Our children are getting education from different sources and in unrestricted environments which can be unhealthy. With technological advancement, Guyana has to develop its Code of Standards that will protect the type of information children are exposed to, and explore ways of aiding the family in ensuring so.  In addition to the type of movies children watch, it may be helpful to seek to work with television stations in determining the type of shows shown at certain hours.

There is the issue of cyber-bullying which is becoming ever prevalent. The internet is also a haven for paedophiles, unrestricted flow of pornography, recruiting for terrorist acts, and other forms of exploitation, violence and abuse.  Ways have to be found to insulate our children from such a toxic environment, even as they are taught that their bodies are  private, what constitutes safe space, how to deal with those who seek to violate them, and appropriate sex education.

In the field of education, children learn what is to come into contact with their senses. Adults have to be mindful of the things they say and do because children often take their cues. Leaders in society must not only speak to the issue of abuse in forms of intolerance, but must also be seen demonstrating that level of tolerance. While children may not be of the intellectual growth as adults, they are very discerning and perceptive.

Stamping it out requires collective approaches and actions. Our children are depending on us.