-moves underway to strengthen referral pathways for child protection
SPEAKING ahead of Sexual Assault Awareness Month on the sidelines of an event on Monday, Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud emphasised the critical role parents and guardians play in protecting children from abuse.
She urged adults to act immediately if a child discloses abuse, stressing that reporting is not optional, but a legal and moral responsibility. Highlighting the Ministry of Human Services’ ongoing efforts with the Child Protection Agency (CPA), NGOs, and law enforcement, Minister Persaud outlined the referral pathways, counselling services, and protective mechanisms in place to support victims while ensuring accountability for perpetrators.
Citing the ministry’s role as straightforward, Minister Persaud explained that the CPA leads on all cases relating to children.
Emphasising the importance of timeliness, she added that a report should be made as early as possible, even immediately following the abuse. “The Child Care and Protection Agency will support those mothers with counselling and post-pregnancy, also work with the mother and child and a part of the programme is to work with the family as well,” she said, highlighting the comprehensive support system in place for young mothers.
She was also keen to stress the crucial responsibility of adults in safeguarding children. “When, as an adult, whether the parents, but especially the parents, school system, people in authority, once a child tells you something, you have a duty to do it. And when you take long to do it or you don’t do it at all or you come after the fact, you are really failing that child,” Persaud added, reminding the public that there are legal repercussions for failing to report child abuse.
Looking ahead, the ministry is developing a stronger referral pathway that ensures seamless coordination from the moment a report is made to the subsequent investigation. Currently, the ministry collaborates with NGOs, governmental bodies, and law enforcement. Moving forward, however, Persaud explained, “We are looking to have a referral pathway that is strengthened. Now it involves several agencies, not only the Ministry of Human Services through the Child Protection Agency. So, we are going to have a stakeholder’s programme; we are going to have a stakeholder referral pathway.”
The initiative has been in the planning stages for some time. “A referral pathway is something we would have been working on since last year, so that when any issue arises, there are specific stakeholders that must be involved; they must follow our standard operating procedures and protocols,” the minister said.
She added that in the coming months, the ministry will conduct workshops, raise awareness, and provide training to ensure that all parties understand their roles and responsibilities. “There is going to be more training, more awareness, more education, so people understand their roles and responsibilities because you would appreciate that if we are to comprehensively address this issue, it has to be everybody involved and everybody involved equally and everybody having full accountability,” she said.
Minister Persaud made the call for collective action, emphasising that safeguarding children is not the responsibility of the ministry alone, but of every parent, guardian, and community member. She reiterated that with strengthened pathways, proper education, and active engagement, the nation can better protect its children and ensure that abuse is addressed swiftly and effectively.
