— is one of six such facilities here for reporting, treatment of child sexual abuse
THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and its partners on Wednesday opened a one-stop ‘Child Advocacy Centre’ (CAC) in Kwakwani to facilitate the reporting and treatment of child sexual abuse.
The partners at reference are the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA); Blossom Inc; and the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
The purpose of the Centre is to offer specialised services designed to respond to cases of child sexual abuse efficiently by ensuring that children have access to a child-safe and child-friendly space to share their stories and get the support that will help them overcome the trauma they have suffered.
Being child-centered, the one-stop facility ensures that survivors do not have to recount their experiences any more than necessary.
The new Child Advocacy Centre will serve Kwakwani and other Region 10 communities which were hitherto unable to access such specialised service because the next available centre is located all the way in Linden.
The Kwakwani Centre is open to all communities, including migrants, and will also serve as a hub for training to ensure that the CAC concept can be extended to other communities.
As of June 2020, the number of reports of child sexual abuse in Guyana has exceeded 200, and as such, access to services such as those a CAC centre offers are critical, given the possible increased rates of violence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A report issued in April 2020 by the United Nations has warned that children risk being among the biggest victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. While children have been largely spared from the direct health effects of the disease up to this point, the crisis is having a profound effect on their overall well-being, including a heightened risk of witnessing or suffering violence and abuse.
“We are delighted to open this Child Advocacy Centre in Kwakwani to respond to and prevent child sexual abuse. This will ensure that children and families in the hard-to-reach communities in the Upper Demerara-Berbice can receive this critical service,” said Blossom Inc. Founder and Managing Director Ayodele Dalgety-Dean. “Blossom Inc. is passionate about ensuring that child victims of sexual abuse receive the best possible service, and this means that we must take services to children,” she added.
The establishment of a CAC Centre at Kwakwani was made possible through joint efforts, active contributions and the leadership of several partners, among them the Kwakwani Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC); the Guyana Police Force and UNICEF.
The CPA, Blossom Inc., the Guyana Police Force and UNICEF have also collaborated to ensure the continued operation of five other CACs in the country, including those at Linden, Mabaruma and Georgetown.
“UNICEF is pleased to support the setting up of the Child Advocacy Centres being a safe haven for children who are survivors of violence, and offering services for them to recover. The services have gained the trust of the communities,” UNICEF Country Representative Sylvie Fouet said, adding: “These essential and core child protection services are critical in ensuring that there are safe spaces, especially in times of COVID-19.”
In order to maximise the services, all partners and members of communities, including faith-based organisations, are urged to play a more proactive role in protecting children from abuse, exploitation and violence. Reports of child abuse can be made to the Childcare and Protection Agency by telephone on 227- 0979, while the Kwakwani Child Advocacy Centre can be contacted on telephone number 608-6719.
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. “Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.” For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org. (DPI)
