– CPA Director urges public in appeal to report child abuse

By Naomi Parris

SCHOOLS are considered to be a home away from home, and in most cases a safe haven for children who are being abused in the privacy of their homes.
There have been several instances where children have shared stories of their abuse with their peers and teachers, thus aiding in their removal from abusive households, or even seeing their abuser being placed behind bars.

With schools being closed due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been a steep drop in reports of child abuse across the country. However, the Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), Ann Greene is urging the general public not to be silent on cases of child abuse.
Greene noted that schools can be considered an ally to the Agency by supporting its efforts to help abused children. She said that with schools being closed these days, it’s no surprise that the Agency has been seeing a decrease in reports, especially since many children are now at home with the very persons who have been abusing them.
“When we examined the period from March to July compared to the last three years, there has been a drop in the reports, which is expected, because school is out. Children are in lockdown situations; they are home with their abusers,” Greene said.

She added that while the Agency has still been receiving reports, it’s just the tip of the iceberg, since child abuse is a hidden crime.
“We are still getting reports, but as I always say, the reports we get is never the true picture, and child abuse is a hidden crime, and it is under reported, so we just don’t look at the figures. But with schools being out, it is a contributing factor,” Greene said.
She added: “If you see something, say something; call in to our hotline number. Parents, the public, we are depending on you; if you see something, you must say something.”

STREET CHILDREN
On the other hand, Greene noted that since Guyana recorded its first case of the coronavirus in March, the CPA has seen an increase in the number of street children, and has been working around-the-clock to house and enlist those children in programmes to keep them off the streets.
Ms. Greene also disclosed that a recent exercise conducted to remove children off the streets has revealed that many of them are users of illegal substances, because of the abuse they suffer in their homes. In this regard, Greene noted that the Agency is working assiduously to locate the parents and guardians of these children to hold them accountable for their crimes.
“We are essential workers; we working all the time. Friday we did a raid on the street; we removed a number of children who were begging… We have our work cut out for us; it’s quite challenging. Just as I said, we are continuing to work; we have to declare war, and I am looking for some warriors in terms of protecting children,” Greene said, adding:
“We are going to hold parents accountable for children being placed in a position that they need protection.”

HELP US
Greene noted that while persons may sympathise with street children, putting money into their hands will not help their situation, but in most cases make it worse, since a few of them are substance abusers, and the money given enables their addiction.

“We are also saying to the public, don’t give children ‘small-change’ when you see them begging outside. If you do that, you are a part of the problem, and the exploitation of the children. And you, too, are sinning against them,” Greene said.

Exploitation of children, she said, can be stopped, in a way, if persons report these instances rather than encouraging it by giving the children what they are begging for. As such, she reiterated her call for members of the public to report crimes against children.
“That little small change is not helping them. You are not a part of the solution. To be a part of the solution, you have to help us guide them, bring them to us. There are programmes for us to help these children and we have to get the support from the public,” she stressed.