THE Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) recently expressed its concerns over the increase in child abuse cases. The RCC based its concerns on a report by the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) highlighting an increase in child abuse cases for the first quarter of 2020.
The Agency had put together statistics garnered for the first three months of the year, and it showed a worrying upsurge of abuse-related cases involving children.
In a statement, the RCC said it believes that the unfortunate event of the COVID-19 pandemic compounds and exacerbates the situation and, while stakeholders have joined efforts on combatting this scourge, it called for a more concerted and collaborative approach. “The RCC believes that the considerable threat to life imposed by COVID-19 must be met with the continued resolve of all stakeholders to keep our children safe. Such safety must involve protection from a deadly virus as well as from any form of mistreatment and abuse while they are at home,” the commission stated.

Children’s rights include the right to health, education, family life, play and recreation, an adequate standard of living and to be protected from abuse and harm. Non-discrimination means that all children have the same right to develop their potential in all situations and at all times.
Like never before, so many of our children’s daily existence as human beings with the right to life, and enjoy an incident free childhood; experiencing joys of childhood, have become perilous, from neglect, physical and emotional, and that for so many varied reasons add to a further confusing mental state of these wonderful beings. In every sense, children are innocent beings. It is an undeniable fact that observing a gathering of children, whether at play in their homes, school yards, or in public spaces, is always a reminder as to the ideal that this world ought to be.

But for millions of children around the world, inclusive of Guyana, this is not the ideal; for their innocence is being made into living hell and nightmare, because of the cruel, exploitative and paedophilic adults who surround them, and control their young lives.

Simply put, child sexual abusers are monsters in human form. But Guyana has not been lapsing in the battle to combat this well known sexual scourge and predator behaviour. Apart from what could be described as the most comprehensive collective legislation, on any social issue, in Guyana, as a result of the nation-wide Stamp it Out consultation paper, the Sexual Violence Bill, the Juvenile Justice Act to ensure perpetrators are brought before the courts and prosecuted, which also covers sexual abuse and other related felonies, there have also been the commissioning of three specialised courts, since 2015, which have resulted in the speedy dispensation of justice, bringing satisfaction, even if not complete closure, for the many victims even as the rate of conviction, since 2015 has risen from a 10 per cent conviction rate to over 60 per cent since the establishment of the specialised courts. There is, however, the need for a sustained public education as to what is really child abuse, since the still popular perception and understanding among some Guyanese is that child abuse is about sexual and indecent acts committed on the child.

It is a position with which we concur as many parents and guardians, even teachers, are known to inflict emotional and psychological harm on children without realising the harm done, and by extension the offence committed, such as calling a child names, done for fun and also in the process of disciplinary measures. Child sexual abuse is still a major social issue in our society; a scourge, to be more precise. The government’s CC&PA and Organisations such as Blossom Incorporated must be congratulated for being part of the national process, bringing awareness through their country-wide programmes on “child education’’, “sexual abuse and violence’’, ‘’signs and symptoms’’ and how to engage children in such a grave situation. But others must also be part of this national crusade, such as religious bodies, human resource departments and their staff, and other social hubs, since incidents of child sexual abuse, and offenders have been found to cut across every social line, and can only be confronted in a holistic manner.

We should all embrace the fight to protect the rights of our children and to ensure that child sexual abuse is not tolerated. Often, the victims are females but we must understand that in many cases, males are also victims. Parents and guardians must stop the practice of sweeping these matters under the carpet. Instead, address the issue and remove the mental and emotional trauma that child will live with for years. It is important for every Guyanese to be vigilant, and help safeguard Guyana’s children from sexual and all other form of child abuse.