To take care of our children is to take care of our future

Nov 22, 2009 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

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By Pastor Sewnauth Punalall (MBS)
Executive Member AFC

On November 19, a special day was observed internationally. It was World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse and the 19th Anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. The World Health Organisation’s Violence & Injury Team defines child abuse as “causing or permitting any harmful or offensive contact on a child’s body; and, any communication or transaction of any kind which humiliates, shames or frightens the child”.
UNICEF’s fact sheet describes the terms of the Convention of the Rights of the Child in the following words “The Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international treaty that recognizes the human rights of children, defined as persons up to the age of 18 years. The Convention establishes in international law that States Parties must ensure that all children—without discrimination in any form—benefit from special protection measures and assistance; have access to services such as education and health care; can develop their personalities, abilities and talents to the fullest potential; grow up in an environment of happiness, love and understanding; and are informed about and participate in, achieving their rights in an accessible and active manner”.
From this description one can see that this treaty seeks to ensure the child’s wellbeing in almost every way. It is crucial to note also that the foregoing contents were not hurriedly put together by the uneducated or unconcerned. Rather UNICEF’s fact sheet enlightens us on the genesis of the foregoing standards in these clear words, “The standards in the Convention on the Rights of the Child were negotiated by governments, non-governmental organizations, human rights advocates, lawyers, health specialists, social workers, educators, child development experts and religious leaders from all over the world, over a 10-year period”.
Guyana became a signatory to this treaty on Sept 30, 1990, and is therefore required by international law to abide by its terms.
On Oct 31 the Guyanese public awoke to the sordid news that a 14-year-old was burnt around his lower abdomen and genitals whilst in police custody at the Leonora Police Station. A graphic picture carried on the front page of Kaieteur News told the story. The teen was held there as part of a probe into a murder and in their effort to extract information from this lad it is alleged that the police committed this act of torture. It looks like they were acting as the judge, jury and the executioner.
Not so long ago a tape recording surfaced where it is alleged that a well known employee of the president’s office was soliciting sex from a minor. These and other examples of child abuse have not helped the image or the citizens of our country. There are those who try to rationalise such abuses by saying that the “child will grow it out” or “time will heal the situation” or “this is all part of growing up”. We wish if it were this easy but unfortunately it is a much more complex situation.
Child development experts hold the scholarly view that an abused child will be more inclined to lie, resent, fear and retaliate instead of being loving, trusting and listening. An abused child has a lower self esteem. An abused child’s psychological development is affected. An abused child can grow up to be an abuser or a recluse.
It follows from these learned observations that an abused child can be severely damaged, especially when one considers the various types of abuse which a child can endure. There is emotional abuse which takes the shape of verbal, mental or psychological maltreatment. There is physical abuse which is the inflicting of physical injury upon a child. There is sexual abuse which is engaging the child in inappropriate sexual behaviour. There is neglect which is failure to provide for the child’s basic needs. In many instances children suffer from a combination of these various types of abuses. Therefore to simply brush this problem under the carpet is not the answer.
The AFC recognizes that our human resource is of extreme importance to Guyana’s development and that our children will be the men and women of tomorrow. Therefore we need today to invest in them educationally, morally, culturally and nutritionally. There are numerous poor and vulnerable communities across our country where children become easy victims of abuse. We call on the authorities of the day to do more to reduce poverty across our land. The Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme (PRSP) came and is now something of the past but there is more poverty now than the pre-PRSP days.
We all know that parental and situational factors contribute to a child’s development. A child spends time at home, at school, in travelling, in recreational organisations, in religious organisations and many other places. The AFC urgently calls on every adult to strive to create an environment of happiness, love and understanding for all the children of Guyana for “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb…” To take care of our children is to take care of our future.

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