– CPA director says child, women abuse at all-time high

CHILD abuse and the assault of women in the home are at an all-time high and clear guidelines with partnerships are needed to ensure children and families are protected.
This is according to Child Care and Protection Agency (CPA) Director, Ann Greene, in her remarks at a two-day sensitisation session Thursday with station sergeants of the Guyana Police Force and staff of the Social Protection Ministry.

The event is being held under the theme: “Working together for the Protection of Children and Families” at Parc Rayne, Houston, East Bank Demerara. Also in attendance was Commissioner of Police (ag) Paul Williams.
Greene explained that child abuse does not go away, but 90 per cent of child abuse is preventable and violence in the home calls for timely intervention and quick responses.

“This activity here today is long overdue, but it is timely since child abuse and assault of women in the home are at an all-time high and we need round-table discussions by key stakeholders,” she said.
Adding that gaining an understanding of agencies roles and functions are necessary to achieve shared goals, Greene said it is expected that at the end of the workshop there will be clear guidelines and partnerships to ensure children and families are protected.
“Officers from the respective divisions along with child protection officers from the district will work together and come up with a strategy to deal with domestic violence and child abuse in their division as first responders,” Greene said.
The CPA director said providing social and human services is not a single agency’s task as problems such as troubled children, broken families, juvenile delinquency, absentee or detached fathers, domestic violence and abuse, children in need of alternative care, child neglect and abuse, school dropouts and runaway children, among others, need to be urgently addressed.

In order to effectively meet the needs of clients, Greene said this will require a network of agencies and professionals for a positive outcome for children and families, noting that the CPA needs the GPF as its top partner, and the final authority on enforcement of children protection laws.
The director said when a successful collaboration bears fruit it raises the standard of care for users.

Commissioner of Police (ag) Paul Williams said now there is a closer working relationship with members of the police force and the staff of the Ministry of Social Protection as more workshops will be held in the future.
He said law enforcement officers are at the forefront and would receive most of the complaints or allegations of child abuse or sexual offences committed.
“We have recognised that despite that is our role, there are challenges that we are faced with during the process of investigation and therefore it is important to have partnership,” the acting top cop said. He said the partnership will also help in the pooling of resources and will bring about transparency in the way and manner investigations are done.
In advising the participating ranks, Williams said, “Ensure that your subordinates carry out the right functions, do what they ought to do, try as much as possible to minimise complaints of neglect, delays, non-response and delay in networking, continue to strengthen this relationship and bond and you will see the successes.”
The Commissioner of Police (ag) underscored that prevention is better than cure and the engagement and efforts should be recognised throughout the justice system. Adding that GPF recruits are being taught about the care and custody of prisoners and the handling of juveniles,

Williams said it is mandated in the Police Force from the divisional level to implement youth groups, scouts and first offender approach in dealing with children.