GUYANA is currently observing Child Protection Week under the theme “Supporting Families to Prevent Child Abuse through Education and Community Involvement.”

The Ministry of Social Protection Childcare and Protection Agency (CCPA) has been hosting various activities throughout the country at a time when there has been an upsurge in reports of sexual abuse and also a number of cases being heard in our courts. 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 per cent of our children between the ages of five and 17 are engaged in child labour. This figure in small society 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 penalty prohibitive enough to serve as deterrence. 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 borne 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 conversation on this issue flares 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 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 environment 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 explores 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 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 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 such abuse but should also demonstrate zero tolerance for such abuse. While children may not be of the intellectual growth as adults are, they are very discerning and perceptive. Stamping it out requires collective approaches and actions. Our children are depending on us.