AS Child Protection Week comes to an end, Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally is calling on members of the public to prioritise children, and for more partnerships with the ministry.

“This cannot be a one-man island, it has to be a collaboration. Children must be seen as treasures,” Minister Ally said in a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Although the ministry has been conducting sensitising exercises country-wide, Minister Ally believes that “there is room for improvement. “This ministry cannot do it alone, a mother or father cannot do it alone, or government cannot do it alone, it has to be an effort whereby we collaborate with different entities.”

This year, Child Protection Week (Sept 23-30) was held under the theme, “Partnering with families and communities for positive outcomes for children”. The week’s activities began with a religious day, followed by outreaches at the Stabroek Market Square, the Police Training Centre, health centres on the East Bank of Demerara, Dora Secondary School and Diamond Secondary.

A rally for the fight against child sexual abuse was hosted in Region Two. Additionally, on Friday a workshop for district police officers was conducted at the Guyana Police Training Centre. There was a grand Family Fun Day on Saturday to round out the week’s activities.

The minister pointed out that though many programmes havd been rolled out for the year, the public needed to play a role in ensuring that the programmes are upheld, and enforced in communities. “Let us work together, and do whatever it takes to protect our future”.
With more public cooperation, partnerships, and the programmes, it is hoped that these would “have a change on society”.